Bud Dupree: Chicago Bears Draft Prospect Profile
With the draft just roughly a month away Bear Goggles On will be breaking down a wide range of options for the Chicago Bears 2015 draft. We’ll profile different positions and different rounds where players who might fit with the Bears new management regime.
Alvin “Bud” Dupree, DE, Kentucky
The Bears certainly need help pressuring the quarterback, so they’ll consider all options including defensive end Bud Dupree out of Kentucky who would project nicely as a 3-4 outside linebacker in Vic Fangio’s rebuilt defense.
College Career:
Dupree played all four years at Kentucky. He appeared in 12 games while starting 3 as a true freshman, collecting 21 tackles and 2.5 sacks. As a senior, Dupree recorded 74 tackles including 12.5 for loss and added 7.5 sacks. In his career Dupree made 247 tackles and 23.5 sacks. That’s solid production in Mark Stoops aggressive defense.
Strengths:
Dupree’s quickness off the edge and athleticism are his biggest strengths. He’s pretty polished in his pass rushing and uses a variety of moves to get to the quarterback. Dupree has shown some ability to drop into coverage, which will benefit him in his projected role as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
Weaknesses:
There are concerns about Dupree’s football strength. Despite adding 15 pounds, Dupree still needs to get stronger. Once defenders get him engaged, he can struggle to free himself up, relying on his quickness to evade blockers.
Bears Fit:
Ryan Pace and John Fox are charged with rebuilding the Chicago Bears defense and they’ll need young impact players to reload an aging defense devoid of rising stars. John Fox has had success developing young pass rushers like Julius Peppers in Carolina and Von Miller in Denver. Don’t be surprised to see the Bears follow that blueprint with an early pick this season. Dupree’s athleticism on the outside would be a huge asset to the Bears in Vic Fangio’s defensive makeover.
Dupree’s NFL comparisons to Mark Anderson and Cornelius Washington, as listed above by Mockdraftable might raise a few concerns for Bears fans but neither of those players had the benefit of playing in a 3-4 scheme under Vic Fangio.
Draft Projection:
Bud Dupree projects as a mid to late first round prospect. Dupree could be an option if the Bears trade out of the #7 spot or if he slips into the second round. I don’t think Dupree gets selected if the Bears stay in their current first round slot.