ESPN names Titans as best fit for Bud Dupree in free agency
The Tennessee Titans will be in the market for at least one pass rusher this offseason, and the ideal situation would be for the team to land multiple – first and foremost through free agency, and then in the draft.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler recently listed the best fits for some of the top free agents this offseason and pegged edge rusher Bud Dupree to the Titans:
The Titans are desperate for pass-rush help, and Dupree won’t fall flat like Jadeveon Clowney and Vic Beasley did there. Plus, Tennessee might get a slight discount (key word: slight) with Dupree recovering from a torn ACL that could hamper his early-season production. Dupree proved to be a beast the past two years. The Steelers want to keep him but are $33 million over the cap.
Dupree has been very productive the past two seasons, totaling 19.5 sacks in that span, including a career-high 11.5 in 2019.
But he does come with some risk, as the 27-year-old suffered a torn ACL this past season and there’s no telling how well he’ll come back from that, especially in his first season removed from the injury.
On the flip side, Dupree’s price could come down as a result, which could help a team like the Titans that is projected to be over the cap, should the latest reported salary cap figure of $180-$181 million come to fruition.
Spotrac has estimated Dupree’s market value with a contract worth $18.2 million annually over four years.
For that kind of money, the Titans could secure another top-flight pass rusher that doesn’t come with as much risk, although we tend to believe Dupree will get a bit less than Spotrac’s estimation given his 2020 injury.
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