Despite visit with Steelers, OLB Bud Dupree agrees to contract with Falcons

Bud Dupree won’t be reuniting with the Pittsburgh Steelers this season.

Although the former Steelers outside linebacker met with the organization April 1 about a possible return, he decided Friday to sign a contract with the Atlanta Falcons, according to WSB-TV in Atlanta.

The decision sends Dupree back to his roots. He was born in Macon and maintains his offseason residence in Georgia.

NFL Network reported the one-year contract is worth up to $5 million, which is more than the Steelers probably wanted to commit to a backup.

Dupree was released by the Tennessee Titans in March after completing two years of a five-year, $82.5 million contract. The Steelers had interest in bringing back Dupree to play behind starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, and he was brought to UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for a physical earlier in the month.

Dupree, though, left without a contract and remained a free agent until Friday.

In six seasons with the Steelers, the former first-round draft pick from Kentucky totaled 39.5 sacks, including a career-high 11.5 in 2019. Dupree had eight more sacks in his final season with the Steelers before he tore his ACL in December.

Dupree signed with the Titans the next offseason but battled injuries during his two seasons in Tennessee. He started 17 of a possible 34 games and appeared in 22 while registering just seven sacks over those two seasons.

The Steelers remain in the market for a backup outside linebacker. Malik Reed signed with Miami in free agency, and the Steelers cut Jamir Jones earlier this week.