The Tennessee Titans have agreed a deal with Bud Dupree, former Steelers lineman Jeremy Fowler told ESPN.
The deal will pay Dupree more than $ 16 million a year.
Dupree gives the Titans’ defense a much-needed presence off the edge. He is also capable of being a businessman in nickel packages.
The Titans fielded just three off-fielders for most of their games last season, resulting in Harold Landry playing 94% of the snaps.
Tennessee has yet to have ten sacks in a season as Brian Orakpo finished 10.5 in 2017.
After hitting Dupree, who turned 28 in February, with 11.5 bags for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2019 season, he was on track for another strong season in 2020 before suffering a torn ACL in week 12. against the Baltimore Ravens.
He told Fowler earlier this month that he plans to be a full participant in an NFL training camp, based on positive feedback from his doctors.
Dupree played on the franchise label after the two parties were unable to work out a long-term agreement. He had eight sacks last season, 31 joint dives, 8 losses for loss and 15 strokes for Pittsburgh.
The 2019 campaign was his healthiest since being taken from the Kentucky by the Steelers in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft; Dupree, who formed a fierce tandem with TJ Watt, recorded 17 quarterback hits and lost 16 tackles.
Not only was Dupree a fundamental piece for the Steelers’ strong defense, he was an adhesive that connected the locker room with his optimistic attitude and personality. He completed his Steelers career with 66 starts, 39.5 tackles, 169 solo tackles, 54 tackles for loss, an interception return for an offense and 65 quarterback hits.
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor and Turron Davenport contributed to this report.