Who here is buying Dupree?

How is a guy like Fackrell in a position to cash in? He barely played last year and made 2 million. How is he in any position to name his price? He’s not the only example just one of them...
So who is playing OLB the following year when Dupree is gone?

 

They aren't losing every single one of those players to sign Dupree.

 

They have a year to figure that out. He comes off the books right when they need to deal with Watt, who has to be a priority.

Fackrell hasn't even been a starter for a full season in the NFL, so this idea that they don't have some big drop-off by signing him in place of Dupree is silly. Even with that in mind, the guy has reached double-digit sacks in an NFL season. He isn't coming as cheaply as you think.

 

We don’t know that...so 3 out of 4 or 3 out of 5 guys? They are all vital pieces to the team as well. Who is our back up center and swing guard should we lose Finney. Who can step in and fill the role of Hilton. Don’t say Sutton because I’m pretty sure you destroyed him a couple years ago when he was given a chance. McDonald? TE is a disaster. Feiler he started every game last year and his T and G capable. We don’t know the big picture yet so let’s not act like tagging Dupree is a fool proof move. There are a lot of moving parts including Ben’s health.

 

BS. He went from 2.3 mil. to 9 mil. Last year. That is a huge increase for what he did for 4 years. 10 mil. A year is near what the top 3 edge rushers made last year. He can walk for anymore then that. That was being generous. There are a lot of edge free agents this year and almost all made way less then that. Heck many made less then chickillo. That's plan B. Football won't stop without bud. I'd be much more worried about paying the guy on the other side.

 

Your point regarding Sutton makes no sense. What he did two years ago is irrelevant. He played a lot better when given the chance this season. Also, I do not remember destroying him two years ago, but it's possible. People are still in love with what we saw from Hilton in 2017. He hasn't had that kind of impact the last two seasons.

I've seen explanations of this that have the Steelers needing only to cut Foster, Barron and possibly McDonald to make room for Dupree. If it is a choice between going a little too high for Dupree or McDonald, Dupree easily wins.

 

A year to figure it out would start with the draft this year and very likely their first pick if they hope to grab someone with a high enough pedigree to trust to be the starter next year and you know he won’t get any playing time this year.

Fackrell may not have been a starter but he was still able to put up 10.5 sacks with much less opportunity. So I don’t know how that’s a knock on him? What is silly is penciling Dupree in for another season like last. There is just as much a guarantee of that happening as Fackrell. He’s done it as well...going from 2 mil. in a season he hardy played? How big a salary you think he’s gonna command? He’s gonna go from 2-12 coming of a season he didn’t play? He’s the perfect example of someone wanting to double or triple his salary for a year and be on a prove it deal. Pittsburgh is the ideal situation. People were probably saying the same thing about Barrett last year. They are very similar situations. There was also a S or CB who turned down a multi year deal for a prove it scenario last year. It happens quite often with guys coming off rookie deals looking for the ideal situation to boost their stock.

 

The amount of increase he got a year ago is irrelevant. You've got a guy who took a huge step forward in production and you think a $1 million raise is a fair offer? You are welcome to fool yourself, but Dupree isn't going to be that foolish.

 

Hilton had a excellent season last year. You have your opinion, I have mine ,let’s see what happens I just don’t think a FA option is anywhere near as far fetched as you think. Agree to disagree....

 

Fackrell is a backup. It looks like he played in every game this season and did next to nothing. There is a reason for that. You want to replace a starter trending in the right direction with a backup trending in the wrong direction. I'm glad Colbert is making the decisions instead of you.

 

Hilton was a part-time nickelback. The smart opinion is that the team can move on if necessary.

 

Hilton snap counts 671. Sutton 265. I’d say Hilton had a damn good year or else Sutton would of played more especially if they thought he was his equal.

 

671 snaps I wouldn’t describe as part time. The smart opinion would be to find a way to pay your best nickelback 3 million to stay around especially with no one proven behind him

 

Wrong man you think ALL these guys will get multi years and big money at that, no way man. Like I said Clowney, Bud, Barrett and Fowler are your big money guys. The rest are left over and there are plenty of players out there, for example take Beasley or Golden. If they don't see big money do you think they might sign a 1 year deal to "prove it" and go after the big money the following year? Also you going to tell me a pass rusher wouldn't want to come here after the season Bud had next to Heyward and across from Watt.........I think this would be a perfect spot for that. One last thing Barrett says it worked for him last year, he signed a 1 year 4 mil contract......so did Golden, Kendricks, Irvin, Collins, Burfict, Lynch , Ray and about 8-10 others. In FA last year at OLB there was one 5 yeard deals, two 4 year deals, one 3 year deal and six 2 year deals........this is not something new it happens a lot.

 

The only reason he got as much as he did was his option. He went from 1.6 to 9.2. Now you want to give him 16 for one good season? That's like a daniel Snyder move. Very foolish. If you think cutting just foster, barron and McDonald will get us there you should check again. Then those guys need replaced. That's more money. You have to have 53.

 

Just because he played in every game doesn’t give context to what he was tasked to do. Do we know how many pass rush opportunities he got? The bottom line is just because Dupree did it this year and Fackrell did it 2 years ago doesn’t guarantee success or failure either way. Hey if you want to put all your eggs in one basket with Dupree for a SB or bust run that’s your opinion. Just know it’s gonna cost you players that could help beyond 1 miracle season. If they give Dupree 17 mil and we win a SB it’s a great deal but if they give Dupree 17 mil.and we lose 3-4 players because of it and we don’t win it....It’s a terrible deal. If you’re so confident in Dupree trending up then why break up a great thing. Sign him to a multi year deal and deal with Watt when Ben’s contract is up.

 

Cutting Foster, Barron & McDonald gets you roughly to what it would take to tag Bud. I would not cut McDonald but that’s neither here nor there.

You then have Feiler, Hilton & Banner who IMO absolutely must be kept. That’s another $8m - $10m that has to be found.

Rookie class & UDFA another $3.5 m that has to be found

The Steelers always keep around $5m for emergencies to cover injuries and pick up guys during the season. Assuming they continue with this sensible policy that also needs to be found.

In summary, you are not keeping Bud by just cutting three players. They will lose depth across the roster because something has to give. Finney, Vannett and Hargrave are gone in the above scenario too, but that’s probably the case no matter what.

They can free up $10m max in restructures so that gets them some of the way but I’m not sure it’s a good idea to be restructuring Ben, Pouncey and some others at this stage so a safer estimate would be a bit lower than that.

I see a lot of talk about Fackrell and he did have that one season with 10+ sacks. Packers fans do not seem to rate him however. Perhaps somebody like him could do well in the Steelers system? Hard to say

I’m in the let Bud go camp for now but if they can find a way to keep him without blowing up the roster I’ll be delighted. There are guys paid a lot of money to figure these things out so let’s see what they come up with.

 

I appreciate what you do as far as making the salary cap easier to understand for a dummy like me. I was just using Fackrell as a example of someone who has had double digit sacks as well. He’s done it so you know he’s capable among many others I’m sure. I’m not evens sure why we need to use the sack number as the biggest barometer. So if someone comes in and has 9 but makes a lot of other big plays he’s not worthy? There will be guys available. To act like there won’t be is just ignoring the fact that there are guys in this position every year. Look at Barrett as the prime example. He had a high of 5.5 sacks in 2017 before exploding with 19.5 this year. Who saw that coming? So I don’t know how anyone can predict with any certainty no one else can do something similar. There are young hungry guys looking for a opportunity to score a big pay day and even some veterans looking to make a few million before it’s over.

Money is a supreme motivator just ask Dupree.....

 

So you want to trust the team’s judgement there, but not on Dupree?

 

Sacks are shorthand, but we also saw Dupree making a more consistent impact all season than we had in the past. He always had great physical tools. There is more reason to believe he can duplicate his 2019 than there is to believe in Fackrell’s 2018.

 

I think its risky to give a lot of money to a one year performer on his final contract year. But that is just me. I'll be sitting back waiting for word on how Colbert will work this out as no one really knows how this will turn out. Personally, I'd be disappointed if they didn't already have a plan for all this by the middle of last season. I get that impression because we are always at the limit on cap every year and seem to work it out. Or maybe I don't know what I am talking about.

 

It’s not that I don’t trust their judgement . What does it matter anyway? I’m just giving my opinion. Plan B isn’t as far fetched as you are making it seem. There’s players who have done it so it’s not as impossible as your opinion suggests.

 

More reason isn’t the same as a guarantee. Picking up a FA in the 10 mil range which is entirely possible and being able to keep other key pieces could outweigh tagging Dupree and losing key pieces. It would also allow a open competition in camp to see who rises to the top to see what our future holds at OLB. Tagging Dupree doesn’t guarantee anything but delaying the growth of the guys behind him. Then we are in the same boat next year. Like I said in another post let’s see what happens with Ben. A healthy Ben would be the only reason I would even consider tagging Dupree. Again it’s opinion. You have yours I have mine.

 

the trouble is we can't keep them all my friend. Sure it would be nice, but unless he comes a lot cheaper there is just no way. We can't cut other starters just for one guy, we have to fill those spots as well.

 

They changed him to the blind side edge rusher so he could be productive. That's not warranted for top 5 OLB/edge rusher material IMO.

I do get the franchise tag for one year if the core of the team can still stick together. It will be overpaying for a player, but it would be obvious based on need. I expect that to actually happen. Goodbye Barron, Hargraves (<<not happy about this one), etc to be able to pay Bud his big $$ this year on the franchise tag.


Any type of long-term deal I think is a mistake unless it's far less than the 13 so mill a year people are quoting around for basically the minimum for an edge rusher.

I do think he was playing desperate this year also as he had millions of dollars on the line with his contract year.