How Bud Dupree, Denico Autry fit with Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans made two major additions to their defense on Monday night after coming to terms on contract agreements with outside linebacker Bud Dupree and defensive lineman Denico Autry.

Titans fans began to get worried when the team was silent for most of the first day of the legal tampering period, but the team made up for that in a big way.

Dupree’s deal is for five years and is worth up to $85 million, with $35 million in guaranteed money. As for Autry, his three-year deal pays up to $21.5 million, with $9 million guaranteed.

While we’re still waiting on exact figures for Dupree, we do know that Autry’s first-year cap hit will be just $3.53 million, which is a good thing during an offseason where the Titans have limited funds to spare.

So, exactly how does each player fit with the Titans going into 2021? We’re going to take a look at that now.

Bud Dupree

The Titans desperately needed to add to their pass rush after finishing with the third-fewest sacks last season. Dupree was one of the best options at outside linebacker available on the open market. Dupree tallied 19.5 sacks in 27 games the past two seasons, which is more than the Titans had as a team combined in 2020. In 2019, he had a career-high 11.5 sacks, and then followed that up with eight in an injury-shortened campaign last season. Both of those totals would have been tops on the Titans the last two seasons. The 28-year-old will be tasked with lining up opposite Harold Landry at outside linebacker in 2021, creating a formidable duo of pass rushers. One thing both players have in common is their high snap counts, as Landry played 94 percent in 2020 and Dupree played 91 percent during his last full season in 2019. That means the Titans' best edge rushers will be on the field often. With his high motor and ability to get to the quarterback, Dupree should take pressure off Landry, something that has been difficult for Tennessee to do the past two seasons with little help around their former second-round pick. While there have been some doubts about Dupree based on his injury last season and the fact that he had an elite defense around him in Pittsburgh that possibly helped pad his stats, on the surface he appears to be an upgrade by default over anyone Tennessee had at the position in 2020.

Denico Autry

While we're waiting to grade the move to bring in Dupree until the specifics of his contract are known, we have the full details of Autry's deal with the Titans, and we've given the move a grade of an "A+". Autry is the definition of a balanced interior defender, as he excels as both a pass rusher and run defender. The 30-year-old totaled 20 sacks during his time with the Indianapolis Colts, including nine in 2018 and 7.5 in 2020. Titans head coach Mike Vrabel loves his players to offer versatility, and that's exactly what Autry brings to the table, as he can lineup at both nose tackle and defensive end in the team's 3-4 defense. Where Denico ultimately ends up playing most of his snaps remains to be seen, but that will likely depend on what other moves the team makes at defensive line. No matter where he lines up, he's an upgrade over DaQuan Jones at nose tackle, especially as a pass rusher, and even more so of an upgrade over Jack Crawford in both facets. Thanks to his capabilities upfront, Autry will be a particularly valuable asset in the pass rush with the Titans needing a boost in that area, and he'll help take pressure off Jeffery Simmons, who was the focus of opposing offenses during his second season.

1

1