Bud Dupree, named the Steelers’ rookie of the year, represents an unprecedented investment the franchise made in outside linebackers over the past two years.
He and Jarvis Jones were drafted in the first round two years apart. It’s the first time the Steelers selected one outside linebacker, never mind two, No. 1 since Robin Cole in 1977, unless you count defensive ends Aaron Jones (1988) and Huey Richardson (1991), who failed to convert to outside linebacker.
They also signed Arthur Moats this year to a three-year contract.
The results have been mixed. While the Steelers pass rush as evidenced in sacks has increased from a 25-year low of 33 in 2014 to 41 today with one game left, their outside linebackers have not been big contributors to that stat.