Atlanta Falcons Photo
I can still remember when Bud Dupree came to Kentucky as a highly-touted prospect out of Georgia that was one of then UK coach Joker Phillips’ best recruits.
Dupree came to Kentucky to play tight end and had a rare blend of size, strength and speed. He may have been a great tight end but then UK linebacker coach Chuck Smith and Phillips convinced Dupree that his future was on defense.
Those memories came back when I saw that Dupree had signed a two-year, potential $10 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers and new coach Jim Harbaugh after spending last season with the Atlanta Falcons.
Dupree became one of UK’s all-time best defenders. He had 247 tackles, 39.5 tackles for loss, 25.5 quarterback sacks and five forced fumbles at Kentucky. He was an all-SEC selection in 2013 and 2014 under coach Mark Stoops.
Dupree was selected No. 22 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2015 NFL Draft and spent six seasons with the Steelers. His best year was 2018 when he had 68 tackles and 11.5 sacks. That led to a five-year, $85 million free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans that the team ended after two seasons. Dupree signed with Atlanta for the 2023 season and led Atlanta with 6.5 sacks and also had 39 tackles and eight tackles for loss while making 16 starts, his most since 2019.
Dupree, 31, has a $6 million base salary with the Chargers that could rise to $10 million. Pittsburgh and Atlanta both made pushes to sign Dupree but Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh sold the former UK standout what playing with stars Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa to give Los Angeles a trio of potent pass rushers at outside linebacker.
Dupree gets another big payday to provide quality depth for what could be one of the league’s most interesting teams with Harbaugh taking over after a national championship season at Michigan last year.
