Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher Bud Dupree has filed a grievance with hopes that he’ll be paid as a defensive end rather than a linebacker, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday.
A fixture in the Steelers lineup since being drafted 22nd overall in 2015, Dupree has racked up 200 tackles, 31.5 sacks, nine pass deflections and six forced fumbles in 70 appearances (55 starts) for coach Mike Tomlin's squad.
The Steelers placed the franchise tag on Dupree in March and the 27-year-old signed it the following month. He is currently set to make $15.8 million as a linebacker in 2020; should he be reclassified, it'll net him about $2 million more.
Similar to Bucs standout Shaq Barrett, who signed his tag and filed the same grievance Friday, Dupree is hoping to work out a long-term contract with his franchise. Also like Barrett, Dupree is not close to signing such a deal, per Rapoport.
The deadline for all franchise-tagged players to sign a multi-year pact is July 15.