3. Bud Dupree, Pittsburgh Steelers
As previously noted, the likes of KJ Wright and Bruce Irvin are both set to hit free agency next offseason. Our guess is that Seattle will show more incentive to re-sign the former after the latter suffered a torn ACL back in Week 2 and will turn 33 years old in November. The Seahawks’ linebacking corps is getting up there in age — Wright is 31 and Bobby Wagner is 30 — so they could really prove to benefit from implementing some youth.
Why not shadow one of the most touted free agents-to-be in Bud Dupree? The Steelers have a cavalcade of stars on their defense and Dupree might be the odd man out in terms of players who will receive extensions. After all, it’s likely that the former first-round pick, who’s currently playing under the franchise tag, is behind both defensive end TJ Watt and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in the pecking order.
Pittsburgh’s salary cap situation, which forced them to let defensive tackle Javon Hargrave test the open market and ultimately ink a lucrative deal with Philadelphia, just won’t allow them to keep everybody and Seattle should absolutely look to reap the benefits.
Dupree has been incredibly consistent since becoming a full-time starter at OLB in 2017. Since then, he’s compiled 159 tackles (38 for loss), 25.5 sacks, 43 QB hits, eight passes defended and six forced fumbles. The Seahawks desperately need that sort of production on their defensive line after watching Jadeveon Clowney sign with Tennessee late in the offseason.
