Steelers LB Bud Dupree missed golden opportunity with franchise tag

With so many players in the NFL playing hybrid and multiple positions, the business of the franchise tag gets a little complicated. This is especially true of pass-rush specialists who interchange between defensive end and outside linebacker depending on the situation.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were faced with this situation this offseason with Bud Dupree. Dupree signed his franchise tender for a linebacker and will make $15.828 million this season.

But after reading how the Baltimore Ravens worked with Matt Judon on his franchise tag, you have to think Dupree and his agent are kicking themselves.

Judon’s agent was able to negotiate a compromise with Baltimore and split the difference between the tag value for a defensive end and linebacker, paying him $16.808 million for the season. A full $1 million bump over the linebacker tag Dupree signed.

With a dispute looming over position designation, the #Ravens and Matt Judon agreed to meet in the middle: The one-year franchise tender he signed Thursday is worth $16.808 million, per source. That’s the midpoint between the DE and LB numbers. A rare compromise.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 29, 2020

Here are the official franchise tag amounts for every position. Judon’s deal opens up a whole new world of negotiations for players going forward.

QB: $26.824 million
RB: $10.278 million
WR: $17.865 million
TE: $10.607 million
OL: $14.781 million
DE: $17.788 million
DT: $16.126 million
LB: $15.828 million
CB: $16.338 million
S: $11.441 million
K/P: $5.019 million