PITTSBURGH _ The Steelers aren't likely to make any moves on Day 1 of the NFL draft, but they did officially add to their roster Thursday.
It was little more than a formality, a paper move, but pass-rusher Bud Dupree signed his franchise tender, the team announced. That just means Dupree has agreed to play under the franchise tag designation in 2020 _ or in Pittsburgh parlance, he's not pulling a Le'Veon Bell.
The Steelers placed the tag on Dupree last month and will pay him $15,828,000 in guaranteed money this year, assuming they don't sign him to a multi-year contract before 4 p.m. July 15. Three years ago, Bell didn't sign his franchise tender until Sept. 4, missing all of training camp. And two years ago, he never signed it, sitting out the entire 2018 season.
As for Dupree, the salary cap space might not be there for the Steelers to work out a long-term deal with him. His fellow outside linebacker T.J. Watt is coming off an All-Pro campaign and should command a massive contract extension this offseason or next. Speaking of formalities, the Steelers have until May 4 to exercise the fifth-year option on Watt's rookie deal. That's a no-brainer, but we'll see if the Steelers use the draft this weekend to select an edge-rusher they can develop behind Dupree and Watt.
