Bud Dupree replacements Pittsburgh Steelers can find in NFL Draft

Who cares if he opted out? Gregory Rousseau is a fantastic talent!

Not every star college player who opted out of the 2020 season benefited from it during the draft process. Former Miami Hurricanes defensive end Gregory Rousseau was initially projected as a can’t-miss top-10 talent. He tore it up in the ACC, but not playing for a season and having a bad pro day now has him on the precipice of falling out of the first round entirely. How far will he slip?

Of all the pass rushers the Steelers could potentially take at No. 24, Rousseau is the most talented. They would not have to reach for him too much, but do need to seriously think about if using a precious first-round pick on a guy who did not play a season ago when there are other draft needs to address is worth it. Should it come down to pure talent, then Rousseau is worth it.

If Rousseau is the pick of the Steelers at No. 24, look for him to be as productive, if not more, than whatever Dupree was during his initial six-year run in Pittsburgh. No, Rousseau is not going to come out of the gate with a 10-sack season as a rookie. However, by his second year in the Steelers organization, he could approach Pro Bowl status playing off Watt in the front-seven.

Overall, there is a lot of risk and reward here with Rousseau. If the Steelers think they can get 2019 Miami Rousseau by 2022, then he must be considered at No. 24. If Pittsburgh feels there are concerns over why his draft stock has slipped in the first place, then the Steelers have to consider other options. Ultimately, Rousseau will be coming off the board around where they are picking.