The Cleveland Browns don't really have a glaring need at pass-rusher, while it seems the Atlanta Falcons can't conceivably head home from the 2015 NFL Draft without one (or two, or three).
Despite the difference in their current situations, both teams are reportedly showing interest in Bud Dupree, a former tight-end recruit for Kentucky who became a good, not great, defensive player but is now a fast-rising NFL draft prospect.
"Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons personnel have visited Lexington, Kentucky, on separate days this week to meet with Kentucky Wildcats pass rusher Bud Dupree, a first-round talent," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Friday.
While Dupree never became a collegiate stud, his combination of size and athleticism and his late move to the defensive side of the ball have NFL scouts salivating at his potential.
The 6-foot-4, 269-pound Dupree finished the 2014 season for the Wildcats with 74 tackles, 7.5 sacks and one interception returned for a touchdown.
According to NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, Dupree, who Zierlein believes compares favorably to New England's Jamie Collins, has a high-ceiling at the next level and the success of his NFL tenure may depend entirely on where he ends up on draft day.
"Dupree is an explosive, powerful athlete with a background in basketball," writes Zierlein. "While he's been productive at Kentucky, his tape doesn't always do his potential justice. He must continue to improve as a pass rusher, but his traits are undeniable. Difference between being good and great might be his coordinator."
Thanks to Nebraska's Randy Gregory's positive test for marijuana at the NFL rookie scouting combine, Dupree's stock may have improved a bit in the first-round, while Gregory could potentially find himself out of the draft's initial round altogether.
Gregory was a name repeatedly linked to the pass-rush starved Falcons, and Dupree could easily jump up their draft board with his expected fall.
New Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn's first order of business this season will be to fix a Falcons defense, which finished last year with just 22 team sacks, good enough for 30th in the league. Dupree, with his incredible potential, could be the perfect player for Quinn to draft and develop as a quarterback-sacking maven.
For Cleveland, Paul Kruger and Barkevious Mingo seem entrenched as the starters on the outside, but both players have faced their fair share of issues since joining the Browns.
Mingo has just three sacks in his last 24 NFL games and, while sacks don't tell the whole story for a pass-rusher as versatile as Mingo, he's struggled to stay healthy enough to consistently create an impact.
Kruger finished last season for Cleveland with 53 tackles, 11 sacks and four forced fumbles and while he's a disruptive force, he's not a talented enough player to get the job done on his own.
With Mingo still something of a question mark and pass-rushing defensive end Jabaal Sheard now a member of the Patriots, Dupree could look good as a third pass-rushing 'backer for the Browns.
