Scouting the AFC North: 3 Steelers FAs Jacksonville Jaguars should target
55. . Linebacker. Pittsburgh Steelers. Bud Dupree. 2. player
The Jacksonville Jaguars need to add pass-rush help in free agency.
The Jaguars couldn’t get to opposing quarterbacks often last year. Although they were able to register two sacks or more in a few games, there were others in which they failed to log a takedown. The fact they traded defensive ends Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue before the season didn’t help matters and neither did the knee injury that slowed down Josh Allen.
Allen should be healthy and defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson should keep developing in his sophomore year. However, the team still needs to add help in free agency and Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree will likely be available. The 2015 first-round pick has registered 19.5 sacks, 24 tackles for a loss, and six forced fumbles. Last year, he logged eight sacks, two forced fumbles, and eight tackles for a loss in 11 games. Unfortunately, a torn ACL cut his season short.
The Steelers might not be able to keep Dupree after paying Cameron Hayward last year. Spotrac projects he will get a four-year $72 million deal in free agency, but it may prove difficult for him to get that amount due to the injury. More likely, he will have to get a one-year prove-it deal and show he has no lingering issues. This could be the perfect situation for the Jags to jump in.