The Pittsburgh Steelers have always been known for drafting top tier talent and rewarding the in-house players once their rookie contracts are expired or close to it. The most recent example was extending cornerback, Cameron Sutton to a two-year deal back in 2021. The organization did the same for wide receiver, JuJu Smith-Schuster, although it was just for one year and he is now with the Kansas City Chiefs. These are a couple modest moves, but the most important thing that happened during that off-season, aside from the draft, was deciding not to try and retain a key defensive difference maker.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 22: Bud Dupree #48 of the Pittsburgh Steelers attempts to pump up the fans against the New York Jets during the second half at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
Pittsburgh drafted linebacker, Bud Dupree 22nd overall out of the University of Kentucky back in 2015. He wasn't necessarily a bust, but did not perform up to expectations until he was moved to the right side following the selection of reigning AP Defensive Player of the Year, T.J. Watt in 2017. The team exercised his fifth-year option and rather than rewarding him after five seasons with the organization, used the franchise tag on him in 2020.
Dupree was coming off of his best season as a pro entering the 2020 off-season. He had 68 tackles, 17 QB hits, 16 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. Due to what he was asking for in regards to an extension, the Steelers' front office placed the franchise tag on him. He had 8 sacks through 11 games before his season came to a screeching halt when he tore his ACL in early December.
He had 19.5 sacks in his final 27 games with Pittsburgh. He had just 20 throughout his original 54 contests. The season-ending injury was one of the main reasons that the franchise let him walk into free agency rather than placing the tag on him again or signing him to a long-term deal. That decision has turned into one of the most unnoticed and least talked about non-moves in former general manager, Kevin Colbert's final years at the helm.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAR 01: Kevin Colbert, general manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers speaks to reporters during the NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 1, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Dupree has a cap hit of $18.7 or more through the 2025 season with the Tennessee Titans. He cashed in despite the injury and while he hasn't been awful, certainly has not lived up to the massive contract he signed. The Steelers drafted Alex Highsmith in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft and believed he could have success in place of Dupree. Highsmith remains on his rookie deal and his cap hit is just north of $1.1 million this year and $1.29 million in 2023.
Anyone playing on the other side of Watt is going to have success due to the amount of attention that he draws. Since the start of the 2021 season, Highsmith has played in and started 28 games sacking the quarterback 16 times including a team-high 10 in 2022. Dupree, on the other hand, was late to the party his first year in Tennessee due to the ACL surgery, and has played in only 19 games since moving to the Music City. He has managed only seven sacks.
Highsmith has managed to force five fumbles to Dupree's two as well as doubling the former Steelers' linebacker's QB hits with 30 since the start of the 2021 campaign. Colbert and his office made a decision to move on from Dupree despite his dominant final two years prior to the unfortunate ACL tear, but Highsmith playing alongside Watt has led to a much better on-field product overall.
Steelers edge rushers, T.J. Watt (#90) and Alex Highsmith (#56) run drills together during training camp in 2021. | Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
The front office apparently was looking ahead to extending not only, Watt, but having the financial capability to lock in safety, Minkah Fitzpatrick to a long-term deal. Everything about the decision to let Dupree walk has turned out in the Steelers' favor. They even received a fourth round compensatory draft pick that they used on speedster, Calvin Austin III. He has not played a snap due to injury, but if he comes back in 2023 and turns into an explosive play-maker, it could make Colbert look even smarter.
Do you think that Colbert letting Dupree move on after his injury is one of the more underrated non-moves throughout his final years as general manager? Let us know in the comments below!
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