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The Tennessee Titans have struck a deal with Bud Dupree, former Steelers linebacker told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Monday.
The deal will earn Dupree more than $ 16 million a year.
Dupree gives the Titans’ defense a much needed presence on the edge. He is also capable of being a down lineman in nickel wrappers.
The Titans fielded just three outside linebackers for most of their games last season, which saw Harold Landry play 94% of the shots.
Tennessee haven’t registered 10 sacks in a season since Brian Orakpo finished with 10.5 in 2017.
After hitting his stride with 11.5 sacks for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2019 season, Dupree, who turned 28 in February, was on track for another solid season in 2020 before suffering a tear from the ACL in Week 12 against the Baltimore Ravens.
He told Fowler earlier this month that he planned to be a full participant in an NFL training camp based on the positive feedback from his medics.
Playing on the franchise tag after the two teams were unable to strike a long-term deal, Dupree had 8 sacks, 31 combined tackles, 8 tackles for a loss and 15 quarterback hits for Pittsburgh last season.
The 2019 campaign has been its healthiest since being taken by the Kentucky Steelers in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft; forming a fierce tandem with TJ Watt, Dupree recorded 17 quarterback hits and had 16 tackles for the loss.
Not only was Dupree a fundamental piece to the Steelers’ strong defense, but he was a glue guy, tying the locker room together with his upbeat demeanor and personality. He ended his Steelers career with 66 starts, 39.5 sacks, 169 solo tackles, 54 tackles for a loss, an interception return for a touchdown and 65 quarterback hits.
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor and Turron Davenport contributed to this report.
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