New England Patriots

Trade Package: New England Patriots trade their 2021 fourth-round pick and 2022 third-round pick to Pittsburgh Steelers for Bud Dupree.

The Patriots have never been afraid to take risks and don’t expect that to change just because Tom Brady is gone. New England’s defense is looking significantly weaker this season. One player that should be on their radar to help avoid such a decline is Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Bud Dupree.

Although Dupree is set to hit free agency in 2021, the Steelers may want to cash in on his productive season last year. While the draft picks may not be very high, a lot of talent is still on the board in the third and fourth rounds of the NFL Draft.

Dupree was great last season, however, Pittsburgh will likely feel it is more important to re-sign players like JuJu Smith-Schuster and extend TJ Watt. Saving the cap space for next offseason while getting value for Dupree in the process would play in Pittsburgh’s favor.

As for the Patriots, Bud Dupree is a perfect fit for their scheme. He can play off the edge and has shown the ability to drop back in coverage. He is a flexible outside linebacker that could thrive in both 3-4 and the 4-3 schemes. New England is known for its flexibility on the defensive side of the football.

It won’t be easy for the Patriots to defend their AFC East division title considering all the changes that have occurred on defense. However, adding another piece to the unit would certainly help to maximize their chances of winning the division again.