Bud Dupree is another player that had an abbreviated 2020 season, but unlike Kenny Golladay’s niggling injuries that piled up, the Pittsburgh Steelers star tore his ACL in the 11th game of the season. He was on pace to be one of the sack leaders in the NFL with eight in 11 games, but the ACL injury cut his season short and likely impacted his long term future as well.
Dupree was already playing under the franchise tag for the Steelers but was well on his way to earning a big money deal with a career year before the injury. He still may be able to earn that as an ACL injury is not the career-ender it once was but there may be concern that he will not be ready for the start of the season since his injury was later in the season.
If teams are not willing to overlook the injury, this could give the Raiders a chance to sign Dupree on a one-year deal where he can prove that he is fully healthy and can earn that long term deal when the cap is expected to increase rather than decrease in 2021. The former Kentucky Wildcat would give the Raiders the edge rusher and playmaker they have been looking for since trading Khalil Mack, and he could pair nicely with Maxx Crosby on the other side of the line.