Bud Dupree is a very valuable player to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The duo with TJ Watt and Bud Dupree is one of the best pass-rushing duos in all of the NFL. It looks like the Steelers are still keeping constant communication with Bud Dupree and they're happy with how he is progressing from his ACL tear in 2020. Dupree has been rehabbing with Devin Bush at the Steelers training facility this offseason. Bush says he doesn't know if Dupree is coming back to the Steelers or not yet.
Losing Dupree would be a loss to the Steelers, but Alex Highsmith will get a big opportunity to replace Dupree and within a year or two he should be able to replace a player like Dupree.
CBS recently wrote an article listing their top 100 free agents heading into free agency. Seven Steelers landed on that list. Bud Dupree was listed as the 23rd best free agent heading into the offseason. The reason why he is listed lower than you would think he would be is that Dupree is coming off of an ACL tear which hurt his value.
That is exactly what CBS said about Dupree. He is coming off of an ACL tear, but he's a good edge rusher who also plays well against the run. There is value in Bud Dupree that is for sure. So much value that the Steelers will keep eyes on him even when he becomes a free agent in the 2021 offseason and continue communication.