3 moves Steelers can make thanks to Ben Roethlisberger’s new contract

1. Retain Bud Dupree

Dupree is the No. 1 defensive player headed to free agency on the Steelers roster. Most fans assume Pittsburgh will let him walk since’s coming off an ACL injury, but Roethlisberger’s new contract gives the team’s front office the flexibility required to bring him back.

Handing Dupree a lucrative long-term extension would be a mistake, but the Steelers might benefit from giving him a one-year, incentive-laden deal to recover on their dime in 2021.

His fit in the team’s defensive system is impeccable. Dupree lacks versatility as an edge player, but he excels when he’s given the freedom to rush the passer with little else to consider. That kind of singular purpose might be difficult for some players to handle mentally, but Dupree executes the scheme without a second thought.

There’s a strong argument to be made that Pittsburgh can find better value by signing another edge-rusher in free agency, but Dupree’s already proven what he can do for the Steelers. That comfort might make him the team’s first choice on the open market.