By Dale Grdnic
PITTSBURGH -- With the top two cornerbacks going earlier in the first round, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected outside linebacker Alvin "Bud'' Dupree from Kentucky with the 22nd overall pick in the first round during the 80th annual NFL Draft Friday night at Auditorium Theatre in Chicago.
The Houston Texans took Wake Forest corner Kevin Johnson at No. 16, and the Kansas City Chiefs went with Washington's Marcus Peters at No. 18. So, that altered the Steelers direction just a bit in the first round, and they went with the top pass-rusher available. Listed at 6-foot-4 and 269 pounds, Dupree used speed and athleticism to record 23.5 career sacks and 38 stops behind the line of scrimmage.
"We didn't expect Bud Dupree to be there at No. 22, so it was a very easy selection,'' Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said. "(And) we believe that we got an impact player. ... He played in a defense very similar to us. He stood up, (is) very strong against the run. He's certainly a good pass-rusher who mixes power and speed. And he can cover.''
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that Dupree will start out playing left outside linebacker. Jarvis Jones, James Harrison and Arthur Moats are the top returning outside linebackers for the Steelers. Moats is on the left, while Jones and Harrison are on the right.
"We had a chance to take him to dinner the night before his pro day,'' Tomlin said. "We had a good conversation with him. You could classify him as a football junkie and football historian. ... He had a lot of questions about James Harrison, not only the player but the professional. He asked a lot of questions about his workout regimen and things like that.''
Colbert noted that the Steelers talked about trading up, but they opted to hold their ground and wait it out. He believed that a good player would still be available, and that was the case with Dupree. He was the first Kentucky player to go in the first round since Dewayne Robertson was taken by the New York Jets with the fourth overall pick in 2003.
"I think the Steelers will be a great fit for me,'' Dupree said. "(But) it was a surprise to me (to get picked by the Steelers). It was great when they (finally) called my name.''
Dupree was supposed to be selected higher in the first round and said it was "horrible'' to hang out in the green room at the draft, waiting for his name to be called. But he was glad to be picked by the Steelers.
"The dinner was great (with Tomlin and Colbert), and they showed a lot of interest in me,'' Dupree said. "We talked about a lot. ... I think I'm in the right position now, and I'm glad Coach Tomlin gave me a chance.''
Dupree believed the Steelers were impressed with his knowledge of football. He spent nearly his entire career, almost all of it as a starter, on the left side.
"I should be very comfortable there,'' Dupree added.
Notes: Dupree said he will arrive in Pittsburgh Friday afternoon for his introductory press conference and to get his playbook to get a jump on his learning process. ... The NFL Draft continues Friday, beginning at 7 p.m. The Steelers have the 56th overall pick in the second round and No. 87 overall in the third round. ... The draft concludes Saturday with Rounds 4-7.