Report: Los Angeles Chargers signing Bud Dupree to two-year deal

Edge rusher Bud Dupree, a one-time Steelers first rounder who has played for three teams, is taking his talents to the Los Angeles Chargers.

According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, Dupree will be signing a two-year deal. Pelissero quoted Athletes First, Dupree’s representatives.

Veteran pass rusher Bud Dupree is signing a two-year deal with the #Chargers, per @AthletesFirst

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 11, 2024

Dupree most recently played for the Falcons. He arrived in the NFL in 2015. That’s when the Steelers selected the former Kentucky Wildcat in the first round of the draft. He signed with the Titans in 2021, then with the Falcons last season.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, he considered signing with the Steelers again. But Dupree visited with the Chargers, Friday. It’s coach Jim Harbaugh’s first year on the job.

Until Dupree, the Chargers hadn’t addressed edge rusher. They didn’t draft one or add a pass rusher via free agency. The defense already features star rushers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. But you can’t have too many on the team.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that Dupree’s contract is worth a base of $6 million. It increases to $10 million with bonuses.

Playing for the Falcons in 2023, Dupree enjoyed his best season since 2020. He registered 6.5 sacks, with 39 tackles, overall. He had eight tackles for loss with eight QB hits. In signing Dupree, the Chargers are getting a 31-year-old defender with 53 career quarterback sacks.

He’s been a starter for most of his career. Dupree has had 99 starts in 119 career games. His top season was in 2019. That’s the only year he posted double-digit sacks. During that season, he totaled 68 tackles, with 10 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.