After an active first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers patiently waited until their number 22 (overall) pick was on the clock. The Steelers wasted little time, selecting Alvin “Bud” Dupree from the University of Kentucky.
Several mock drafts had Dupree at the top of the Steelers’ draft board.
Steelers Gab will continue full 2015 NFL Draft coverage through rounds 2-7.
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Pingback: Steelers select Alvin “Bud” Dupree At No. 22 Overall in 2015 Draft | Sports Feedr
DrGeorge
May 1, 2015 at 9:13 am
Sometimes the gods smile. The Steelers got lucky. Their #22 pick got them #15 talent in the form of Bud Dupree, a freak of nature who is the pass-rushing beast at OLB we need – maybe.
Dupree was expected to go much earlier, between the #11-#19 picks. He fell to Pittsburgh at #22 because the Redskins wisely chose for need, taking Scherff, the best OL in the draft, which allowed Leonard Williams, the only consensus “sure thing” in this draft, to fall to the Jets at #6, droping all other defensive players down a notch. Then Cleveland’s choice at #19 of a top quality center (instead of an OLB) allowed Dupree to fall to #22. Keith Butler couldn’t believe his good fortune. His job just became a little easier – maybe.
As I noted before the draft, after the #10 pick, all players have issues. The issue with Dupree is consistency and motivation. He is an impressive athlete, but his game film is less than inspiring, especially considering his size and speed. He padded his stats against non-SEC opponents. He did not dominate SEC linemen. IF Keith Butler and Joey Porter can inspire him “to be all he can be,” Dupree could be an All-Pro in the very near future. Physically, he’s that good. But if Dupree is content merely to make a lot of money, he will be a bust or mediocre at best.
The Steelers were willing to take that risk because Trae Waynes and Kevin Johnson, superb CBs, were taken earlier, leaving them to choose between Dupree and two talented OLBs with a fondness of weed, namely Shane Ray and Randy Gregory. This year, character trumped talent.
If Dupree proves a bust, there will be plenty of talented players the Steelers could have taken at #22 to supply Monday morning fans with delirious could-have-beens on blog sites a year from now. But the draft is as much an art as a science, and I, for one, think Colbert and Tomlin made the most of their pick. CBS Sports gave them an A+, even before Dupree put on a uniform. I won’t go that far, but I do think Dupree is a risk well worth taking. Now it’s up to Dupree to make Colbert and Tomlin look like geniuses.