Former Kentucky Linebacker Bud Dupree laughs off tweet about upcoming contract

Whereas former Wildcats reminiscent of Bam Adebayo and Immanuel Quickley have been thriving within the skilled leagues, one other recent identify is developing for a giant payday.

Former Kentucky linebacker/defensive finish Bud Dupree is an upcoming free agent in 2021, and following a profession 12 months earlier than a torn ACL suffered in Week 12 of the common season, Dupree could possibly be in line for a large contract.

In a response to a tweet that steered the Pittsburgh Steelers re-sign the thrilling edge rusher to a one-year deal under market worth, Dupree may do nothing however snicker.

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— Large Bud (@Bud_Dupree) January 27, 2021

93.7 The Fan’s NFL insider John Clayton steered that he expects Dupree to signal a one-year deal price $6 million, lower than half of what he made in 2020, resulting from his damage and the lowered wage cap on account of COVID-19.

Tagged as a linebacker, Dupree made practically $16 million from final 12 months’s franchise tag, with this 12 months’s projections being in the identical vary.

Earlier than tearing his ACL, Dupree was on tempo for a profession season, topping his efficiency from the 2019 season which earned him the one-year franchise tag. In 11 video games, Dupree had eight sacks, two compelled fumbles, 12 QB hurries, and 28 pressures, which both matched or topped his profession highs from 2019.

Dupree, who contented his franchise tag earlier than final season, asking to be tagged as a defensive finish as an alternative of a linebacker due to his snaps as an edge rusher, can anticipate a giant payday if he’s allowed to hit free company.

A superb edge rusher like Dupree can command wherever close to $14-$18 million due to the worth go rushers present in at this time’s league. This common would put him under the highest finish go rushers like Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald who’re incomes $20 million-plus. Dupree can anticipate a contract much like his former Kentucky teammate Za’Darius Smith, who signed a four-year $66 million contract final January with a yearly common of round $16.5 million.

Whether or not the contract is obtainable by the Steelers is a unique story. The workforce is at the moment $34 million over the projected $175 million wage cap with different upcoming free brokers like JuJu Smith-Schuster and left deal with Alejandro Villanueva anticipating to be paid, in addition to a contract extension for star rusher T.J. Watt, who’s on the final 12 months of his rookie deal.

Kentucky followers know Dupree’s price, and it’s approach over $6 million per 12 months.