A former first-round pick has signed with a team ahead of the 2024 NFL season.
The Los Angeles Chargers announced the signing of veteran linebacker Bud Dupree on Saturday.
It was reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport that Dupree signed a two-year contract with the Chargers worth a maximum of $10 million.
The 31-year-old recorded six and a half sacks with the Atlanta Falcons in the 2023 season.
Dupree also recorded 39 tackles with eight tackles for loss along with eight quarterback hits and was the Falcons’ leading rusher.
He will join a Chargers team that features star linebackers Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa.
Dupree was a first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2015 season.
He has had recent conversations about signing with the Falcons and even his former team Steelers.
But ESPN reported that the Chargers traded Dupree in three-rusher sets with Bosa and Mack on the field together.
Dupree had a slow start to his NFL career.
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He started just nine games during his first two seasons before becoming a consistent starter in 2016.
During his tenure in Pittsburgh, Dupree had a 10-sack season once.
His career year campaign came in 2019 when he played in every game.
Dupree posted 68 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 17 quarterback hits.
The Kentucky product also recorded a career-high 11.5 sacks and helped the Steelers have the fifth-best scoring defense.
In 2020, Dupree suffered a season-ending knee injury after 11 games.
What we already know
ONLY one matchup has been confirmed for the 2024 NFL regular season so far.
That’s the Week 1 matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers on Friday, September 6th.
The game will be played at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo, Brazil, and will be broadcast live on Peacock across the United States.
We also know the identity of the home teams in the three games in London, England, and one in Munich, Germany.
The Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings will host games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while the other home team in London will be the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium.
The Carolina Panthers are also confirmed for the game at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
The Tennesee Titans signed him to a five-year, $82.5 million contract in the 2021 offseason.
Dupree had a disappointing two-year stint with the Titans and the team released him in March 2023.
Fast forward to 2024, and the resurgent Dupree will join the Chargers led by new head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Los Angeles will try to improve a unit that ranked 28th in yards allowed last season.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story