Former first-round pick expresses interest in reuniting with Steelers

The Steelers don't have many holes left on their defense following the additions of linebacker Patrick Queen and safety DeShon Elliott this offseason. That hasn't stopped one of their former first-round picks from making his pitch to return to Pittsburgh.

Free-agent linebacker Bud Dupree, a first-round pick by Pittsburgh in the 2015 NFL Draft, recently expressed his interest in reuniting with the Steelers when asked if he would consider a return to the Steel City.

"For sure. If the opportunity came up, definitely," Dupree said. "It's a great organization and Tomlin — he is who he is. The standard is the standard — for sure I'd go back."

Dupree spent the first six years of his NFL career in Pittsburgh, posting 231 tackles, 39.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one interception and one touchdown.

Following his final season with the Steelers in 2020, he joined the Titans on a five-year, $82.5 million contract. However, he struggled to stay healthy, and his production declined. Tennessee released Dupree ahead of the 2023 season when he went on to play for the Falcons.

The 31-year-old is not the player he used to be, but a reunion with Pittsburgh could make sense for the right price. 

The Steelers typically carry at least four edge rushers on their 53-man roster. Linebackers T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig are all under contract in 2024, but veteran Markus Golden has left a vacancy as a free agent. 

The team may bring back Golden after he had 20 tackles and four sacks as a rotational edge rusher, especially if he's willing to return on a similar deal (one-year, $1.3 million). If that's not the case, it wouldn't hurt for Pittsburgh to add Dupree.

Dupree joined Atlanta on a one-year, $3 million contract last offseason, but if he is seriously interested in ending his career where it started, joining the Steelers on a deal like Golden's would likely get the job done.