Bud Dupree inks one-year deal with Atlanta Falcons

Former first-round pick Bud Dupree is entering year nine in the NFL. The Kentucky product officially has a new home.

Dupree and the Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a one-year deal with both Zach Klein and Adam Schefter reporting the news. The 30-year-old pass rusher will be suiting up in the NFC South this season.

Per NFL source … outside linebacker Bud Dupree has agreed to terms on a 1 year deal with the Atlanta Falcons

— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) April 14, 2023

Former Titans and Steelers’ LB Bud Dupree is signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons, as @ZachKleinWSB reported.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 14, 2023

The No. 22 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft spent his first six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers recording a career-high in snaps (980), tackles (68), sacks (11.5), pressures (51), and forced fumbles (four) in 2019. Dupree entered free agency following the 2020 season after six seasons in the AFC North and signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Tennessee Titans. After helping the AFC South franchise claim a division title and the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs during his first year in Nashville, things did not go well in year two as the edge rusher recorded just seven combined sacks over two seasons. Dupree was cut by Tennessee after serving just 40 percent of that big contract.

There was not a ton of interest in the early wave of free agency for the outside linebacker. Dupree is now jumping on a one-year prove it deal worth $5 million with the Falcons who desperately need some pop on the EDGE after ranking last in 2021 and second-to-last last season in sacks.

The former All-SEC performer is returning to his home state and appears to be entering a good situation. Atlanta needs some pass rush productivity and overall physical presence in the defensive front. Dupree will be given a chance to provide that.

After two lackluster seasons in Nashville, Bud Dupree will be looking to bounce back with an Atlanta Falcons team that just made some big moves in free agency and has quality draft capital to spend in Kansas City at the end of the month.