Who here is buying Dupree?

The Steelers hold all the cards, he isn't getting paid this year, they might do something in 2021 though.

 

You can't pay everybody, Minkah isn't getting a extension after 2 years, I don't think that's even allowable.

 

They don't need to deal with Watt or Fitzpatrick yet. Again, that is why a franchise tag for Dupree makes sense. Pay him for the one season, then that money becomes available when they need to put it toward locking up Watt and Fitzpatrick in 2021.

 

Wait that long and he'll be gone. That will be the same mess we are in now with dupree but worse.

 

Minka would be after next year. After his third year.

 

The franchise that is doable but at what cost to other positions you need to upgrade?

 

Not sure if Dupree is really worth a franchise tag..even for one season. He finally broke out (contract year, of course) on the field.. but I don't have much faith in him repeating or building upon what he did in 2019. This team is really up against the cap, I say let him walk.

 

Great. Now show us the viable replacement at a reasonable cost. That player certainly isn't anyone currently on the roster. Are the Steelers, with their lack of cap space, going to outbid another team for a decent free agent? Are you going to rely on a draft pick, no higher than a second-rounder, to step in right away? Or are we going to see a huge part of that pass rush disappear and the defense falls back after the big step forward in 2019?

 

It still probably won't happen, teams don't do extensions that often after the third year, Zeke Elliott had to hold out to get his contract. They will do Watt before Minkah.

 

He won't be gone they could use the 5th year option on him.

 

and we are in the same boat as with dupree if they wait with a better player then dupree. That would be a huge mistake. Every year they wait the price goes up.

 

They still have the fifth-year option after next season and they could franchise him after that. They have plenty of leverage to get him to negotiate a long-term deal next offseason.

 

I agree about the leverage, but the price this year is the cheapest it will ever be.

 

Jordan jenkins. Made 2.2 mil. Last year. 8 sacks last year. 7 in 2018. Probably increase with watt on the other side. I'm sure there are players like him and like fakrell that want more playing time on a defense like this. Make some calls, what could it hurt before we invest that much in bud and lose some other key guys.

 

No. Dupree is a product of a the system not the allpro that you make him out to be. Not even probowl material on a team that consistently produces probowl players at the lb position. Let someone else overpay for his average starter qualities.

 

I have been screaming this. Jenkins, Orchard, Jenkins, Golden, Frackell, Lynch, Correa and Van Noy are all guys with big upside and half the price. Add guys like Beasley and Judon could be more but not as much as Bud. There are options out there and yeah it is a gamble to get the same production as Bud however is it certain to get the same out of Bud next year............Nothing is for sure and nobody plays forever. At some point everyone gets replaced why spend all that money when there are cheaper options. jmo

 

The Steelers can't be to concerned about who they might or might not sign 2 or 3 years down the road. So many unknowns. Watt or any other players might price themselves out of town or want to test the market. Injury unknowns?

The organization needs to be concerned about the best team they can field for next season. They need to sign Dupree if they can work out a deal with him.

 

Why spend on Bud who had 1 great year out of 5 when there are options out there maybe just as good at a lot cheaper and the money saved could be used to help other areas? I agree 100% we need to field a winning team next year for sure, the window is getting smaller.

 

Why? We know that Bud fits in with this team. He knows the defense and doesn't need a year to get acclimated.

I'm not sure about cheaper options. We don't know how or if cheaper options could fit into the defense.

 

I doubt it will make much difference. He still has a shot at DPOY. Even if not, he is one of the top defenders in the league and he is going to expect to get paid like it.

 

Because we don't know if Bud can repete last year........he had 1 of of 5 good years. The whole knowing the defense is BS I think I recall a player being traded here in the first few weeks of the season and didn't know the system. How did that work out for Mincah, he played pretty well learning on the go. It isn't like a FA wouldn't have the pre season and off season to learn. Everyone is replaceable and so is BUD! I am not saying any of the names would put up the same numbers but I am also saying some could. jmo

 

Fitzpatrick is a special player. They knew he was the kind of guy who could learn the new scheme quickly and make up for any learning curve with his physical tools. Expecting that from some bargain pick-up at outside linebacker is silly. Fitzpatrick is the exception, not the rule.

The questions about Dupree bring up the beauty of the franchise tag. It is just a one-year commitment. Also, he's going to be playing for a contract again. What we do know is what the defense looked like with him playing for a contract in 2019. I'd certainly like to see that again rather than Watt getting the entire focus of opposing blocking schemes because offense would be able to stop respecting the pass rusher from the other side.

 

I've said a few times already that Minkah really made Bud this year. TJ has been a force even with no secondary help. He's the real deal. Bud came on when the secondary got upgraded. TJ got more attention up front and the secondary finally gave the pass rush an extra second or two to get home.

Bud performed well, no doubt. But I truly believe his production can be replicated with any number of available pass rushers, at a reduced rate.

Let him walk and use the money somewhere else. TJ was effective when Bud sucked. TJ will be effective when Bud is replaced.

And if our secondary gets even marginally better, our pass rush should easily be just as dominant with or without Bud.

 

Watt was more effective with a pass rusher on the other side. Having two outside linebackers who can get after the passer is a huge part of a successful 3-4 defense. It's not as if the pass rush is going to completely disappear without Dupree. But we saw what that defense can be in 2019. Your path is going to lead to a step back.

I will ask you the same thing I ask everybody when they talk about replacing Dupree with some cheaper free agent. Which one? Who is that replacement? Why is he going to take less money to come to the Steelers? Why do you think he can do what Dupree did? Keep in mind that the Steelers really aren't in a position to outbid anybody. If they do bring in a free agent, that is likely to be a multi-year commitment.

With the franchise tag, there is no bidding against anybody and it is only a one-year commitment. Once they give up that option, there is a distinct possibility that they don't end up with any of the good free agent outside linebacker options. There is a very real chance they end up going with Chickillo or Adeniyi as a starter next season and if that happens, the defense will take a big step backward.