The franchise tag has typically been seen as a sign of disrespect by the players that receive it. Bud Dupree, who the Pittsburgh Steelers placed their tag on this offseason, is keeping a positive attitude despite playing under the tag in 2020.

“It’s bittersweet, but it’s also a blessing to be able to get to this point of my career and still be here, be in this position I am today,” Dupree said, via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I’m in the driver’s seat of my career right now. I’ll go out and play the best I can play and everything will be in place at the end of the year. I’ll be able to control my own destiny.”

Most players would prefer to finalize a long-term deal with the team they play for rather than receive the franchise tag. However, for Dupree, he's content with the opportunity to control his own destiny in free agency in 2021.

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Dupree signed his franchise tender in April, making it a certainty that he'll make $15.8 million this season with the Steelers. Despite using their lone franchise tag on Dupree, Pittsburgh has made it clear they would love to have him remain with the team his entire career.

With that being said, the Steelers have a few marquee names set to hit free agency next offseason. Besides Dupree, JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner, and Cameron Heyward are all entering the final years of their contracts in 2020.

The former first-round pick of the Steelers in 2015 had a career year with the team in 2019, recording a career-best 11.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. While his future with Pittsburgh is in jeopardy, Dupree is taking a positive approach to playing under the tag in the upcoming season.