Former Steelers first-rounder Bud Dupree signs one-year deal with Atlanta Falcons

Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft pick Bud Dupree is reportedly signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the one-year deal is worth up to $5 million with incentives.

Dupree had been back to work out for the Steelers this offseason after hitting free agency but the linebacker finally found a home with the Falcons.

He finished last season on injured reserve with the Tennessee Titans, but he’s healthy and recovered now. One of his best seasons with Pittsburgh was in 2019, when he had 11.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, and 17 quarterback hits. The Titans released Dupree in March, clearing $9.35 million in cap space for 2023.

Dupree has posted 266 total tackles and 46.5 sacks during his NFL career. He’s also collected four fumble recoveries off 10 forced fumbles as well as an interception. During the last two seasons with Tennessee however, he produced just 35 tackles and two fumble recoveries, playing in just 22 games and starting 17 of those.

During his college career with the Kentucky Wildcats, Dupree earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2014, after he racked up 74 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. He went No. 22 overall in the 2015 NFL draft to the Steelers. Dupree is a Macon, Georgia native so the move to Atlanta brings him much closer to his roots.

The Falcons defense has added a slew of new faces this offseason. They traded for corner Jeff Okudah and added defensive linemen Calais Campbell and David Onyemata, and safety Jesse Bates.

More on the 2023 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2023 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 15. At that time, contracts running through 2022 officially ran out, making those players free agents. There were 722 players due to hit free agency in 2023.

Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 7.

The legal negotiation period spanned from March 13 through March 15. The new year marked the beginning of all trades going official per the league office. April 21 marks the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 26, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hits.

On3’s Wade Peery contributed to this report.