Former Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree agreed to a multi-year deal worth an average of $16.5 million per season to join the Titans per the NFL Network. The total package is five years at $85.5 million with $35 million guaranteed.
The move came around the same time the Los Angeles Chargers lured away offensive lineman Matt Feiler for a three-year, $21 million deal.
Dupree is the first Steelers player to sign a deal with another NFL team since the legal tampering period began at noon Monday. Earlier in the day, the team re-signed cornerback Cam Sutton.
Dupree, 28, is coming off a torn ACL that limited him to 11 games in 2020. But he recorded 19.5 sacks the past two seasons, the fifth-highest total in the league. The Titans recorded 19 sacks as a team last season.
A first-round draft pick by the Steelers in 2015, he played the 2020 season on the franchise tag.
The Steelers had expected to lose Dupree. They selected Alex Highsmith in the third round of the 2020 draft. Highsmith started the final five games of last season following Dupree's injury.
T.J. Watt, Dupree's pass-rushing partner the past few years, expressed happiness for his former teammate.
Could not be happier for @Bud_Dupree !! A great player and an even better teammate! I am going to miss our picnics in the backfield 😂 pic.twitter.com/roTlq0e2va
— TJ Watt (@_TJWatt) March 16, 2021
The Steelers will host the Titans in 2021.
Dupree's deal should net the Steelers at least a third-round compensatory pick. But we'll know more when the final details of the contract, which becomes official on Wednesday, are released.
Feiler signed with the Steelers and spent time on their practice squad after being released by the Texans. A Bloomsburg product, he appeared in 46 games for the Steelers, including 40 starts.
Feiler was the team's starting right tackle in 2018 and 2019, moving to guard in 2020 to replace Ramon Foster following his retirement.
The Steelers had been hopeful they would have a chance to resign the 29-year-old, but the Chargers' offer was too rich.
The Steelers face the Chargers on the road in 2021.