Two Pittsburgh Steelers defensive starters are preparing to potentially high free agency in March. Outside linebacker Bud Dupree and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave were key components of the Steelers 2019 defense and because of this are going to be eyeing big paydays in the offseason. But are they worth it?
The smart folks over at Pro Football Focus decided to dig into the sack numbers of the top free-agent defenders and assign them either the label of overvalued and undervalued. And the Steelers landed one of each.
PFF considers Dupree overvalued in the free-agent market based on his sack numbers. Here’s what PFF had to say about Dupree’s numbers in terms of sacks compared to pressure rate.
What should concern the Steelers when looking at the potential of re-signing Dupree, along with other potential suitors, is that his pressure rate for 2019 sits at only 10.1%. That ranks 70th among edge rushers, tied with Cassius Marsh and John Simon. Dupree’s sack total with a pressure rate that low and a four-year track record of subpar production as a pass-rusher should bring reason for pause for NFL teams this offseason.
Meanwhile, PFF considers Hargrave, a pure nose tackle undervalued in the free-agent market. This is what PFF had to say about Hargrave’s impressive season.
Hargrave’s pressure rate of 14.2% this season fell behind only Aaron Donald and Chris Jones at the interior defender position. The Steelers are stacked at interior defender with Cameron Heyward, Tuitt, Hargrave, and Tyson Alualu, who had a career-high PFF overall grade of 80.1 in 2019. It remains to be seen if they’ll prioritize bringing back Hargrave because of that, but whoever ends up with him will have a prime candidate for a breakout player.
It’s hard to disagree with either of these. Dupree had a huge 2019 season but it was literally all or nothing each week. If he didn’t get a sack he really didn’t offer much in terms of pressure. And his all-around game didn’t show much improvement at all. A case could be made the work of T.J. Watt on the other side actually boosted Dupree’s production.
As for Hargrave, I really hope the Steelers sign him back. His work doesn’t always show up in the boxscores but you can just watch him work over interior offensive lineman. His strength was better this year along with his conditioning and it really showed down the stretch.
