When the Steelers picked up the fifth-year option on Bud Dupree for the 2019 season at $9.2 million, many fans expressed outrage.
But the outrage is more muted now after Dupree turned in his best season as a pro, recording 11.5 sacks and forcing four fumbles.
That has earned Dupree another raise. The Steelers gave him that Monday, placing the franchise tag on the sixth-year linebacker. The move will pay Dupree $15.828 million in 2020.
The move ensures the Steelers will have to make a number of moves to get in compliance with the 2020 salary cap of $198.2 million.
A 2015 first-round draft pick out of Kentucky, Dupree teamed with T.J. Watt last season to combine for 26 sacks, making them one of the most productive edge-rushing combinations in the league. Dupree also had 16 tackles for a loss in 2019, a total that ranked fourth in the league.
Mike Tomlin, Art Rooney and Kevin Colbert all said at the conclusion of the 2019 season that bringing Dupree back was a top priority for the Steelers. But it also means the team likely will part ways with nose tackle Javon Hargrave.
Hargrave, a four-year stater, is likely to command $12 to $14-million on the open market as a free agent when the new league year begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Hargrave likely realizes that.
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— Javon hargrave (@Jay_MostWanted) March 16, 2020
The Steelers were slightly over the salary cap, which was announced Sunday after the NFLPA ratified a new CBA, prior to tagging Dupree. Now, with the tag in place, they must clear approximately $16 to $17 million in cap space to make things work.
And that doesn't include what they'll need to also do to tender contracts to restricted free agents such as offensive linemen Matt Feiler and Zach Banner and cornerback Mike Hilton.
Dupree has recorded 31.5 sacks in his five seasons, appearing in 70 games with 55 starts.
He is the first player on which the Steelers have placed the franchise tag since running back Le'Veon Bell. Bell was tagged in both 2017 and 2018.
Bell played under the tag in 2017 but skipped the 2018 season. Dupree told me in November he would play under the tag.
“I’m just excited. Those are life-changing moments,” Dupree said. “I went in the first round, but first-round money is way different from second-contract money. It’s just fun and exciting seeing some of those guys, that I’m close to getting paid. I’ve got to continue to ball so that teams that I’m playing against and teams that are watching say, ‘I might want him on my team.’”
The move buys the Steelers time to attempt to work out a long-term deal with Dupree, something Colbert said the team would like to do.
"One thing that won’t change is our desire to have Bud Dupree finish his career as a Pittsburgh Steeler," Colbert said at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. "He had a great season for us. He’s earned it. There’s no denying that. We’re as happy as we can be because we’re confident he can do even more moving forward."
The Steelers will have until 4 p.m. July 15 to make that happen. At that time all negotiations between teams and tagged players must end and the tag locks into place.
