Steelers: 3 Bud Dupree replacements in 2021 NFL Draft
By Cory Kinnan
The Pittsburgh Steelers are now short a starting pass rusher as former first round pick Bud Dupree has signed a massive five-year deal with the Tennessee Titans. This leaves T.J. Watt without a partner in crime heading into the 2021 season and towards the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Steelers, however, did select Alex Highsmith in the fourth round a year ago, who saw valuable snaps as a rookie after Dupree went down with a season-ending ACL injury. Will Mike Tomlin and his staff go into the 2021 season with Highsmith starting opposite Watt, or will they look to make a move in the draft after all of the big-time pass rushers signed elsewhere in free agency?
Will Steelers look for Dupree’s replacement in 2021 NFL Draft?
Even worse news for the Steelers, this year’s pass rusher class outside of the first three names in Michigan’s Kwity Paye, Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari, and Miami’s Jaelan Phillips is pretty shorthanded. This could mean they reach for a name with their first round selection or they hold off on adding another pass rush threat until day-two or day-three of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The depth, however, is pretty good in this class once you get to the middle rounds of the position. This may be where the sweet spot for the Steelers can be found. Here are three options, one per day of the NFL Draft this coming April, who could make themselves a home in Pittsburgh as the Steelers look to replace Dupree.