By Jessica Costello
SteelerNation.com
Free agency opens at 4 p.m. on March 18, 2020 and the Pittsburgh Steelers have some pretty big decisions to make. To think that these decisions haven't been thought of or discussed would be a tad simple-minded. With just over a month, Bud Dupree has been provoking a lot of buzz throughout the league.
The former first-round pick should probably be expecting a huge payday considering he performed his best season in 2019. Dupree's expected to be reeling in approximately $16.6 million per season. This payday is because of his stats in 2019, the only year he's really performed like that.
So is it smart for the team to invest in someone that added such value for just one year? It's quite possible that he has another show-off year, but to play devil's advocate, it's very possible he's not as lucky.
Pittsburgh has some choices to make and some options as well. There's another prospect that will be hitting the market that could potentially be an asset to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jadeveon Clowney was also a former number one pick in 2014 and his performance has never ceased to show that. He's only projected to earn $3.4 million more per season, too.
According to Pro Football Focus, Dupree is 63rd in the NFL for low-pressure rating and average pass-rush grade. That makes his value of $17 million a little absurd compared to the performance of other players in the NFL.
Clowney hasn't ever really recorded an 'off' season per se. His 9.5 sacks are his career-high and is constantly double-teamed because he's a constant threat in the backfield. He's earned 71 tackles for loss his 7.5 career games.
There's no question that Dupree was an invaluable asset last season, but considering his expected salary and questionable performance in 2020, is it worth it?
Let us know what you think in the comments section below, Steeler Nation. Should the Steelers stick with who they know, or invest in someone else?
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