A veteran pass-rusher reportedly will hit the NFL free-agent market soon.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Tennessee Titans “plan to release” outside linebacker Bud Dupree.
Schefter notes that the Titans “cannot release OLB Bud Dupree until the start of the league year, March 15, due to his remaining guaranteed salary,” and adds that releasing Dupree “will save the Titans $9.35 million against their cap.”
Titans cannot release OLB Bud Dupree until the start of the league year, March 15, due to his remaining guaranteed salary. But they plan to release him then. The move will save the Titans $9.35 million against their cap.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2023
Dupree, 30, has 46.5 career sacks in the NFL. The 6’4″, 269-pound edge rusher got 39.5 of those sacks over six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, led by an 11.5-sack campaign — which also featured four forced fumbles — in 2019.
Ahead of the 2021 NFL season, Dupree signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Titans. He went on to have seven sacks over 22 games and two seasons with the Titans. In 2022, he had four sacks and nine quarterback hits over 11 games played.
Dupree was selected by the Steelers in the first round (22nd overall pick) of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Kentucky.
While Dupree’s best playing days are likely behind him, every NFL team is looking for pass-rushing help, so he’ll likely draw plenty of interest on the free-agent market next week.
Releasing Dupree gives the Titans some cap flexibility as they try to improve after a disappointing 2022 NFL season in which they went 7-10.
