Brandon

Copeland

Copeland has played 66 career games in the NFL, totaling 119 tackles, seven sacks and 19 quarterback hits. He’s only two seasons removed from racking up a career-high five sacks with the Jets. He’ll be used as depth in Atlanta.

Copeland recorded five sacks in 16 games during 2018 but was given a four-game suspension in 2019 for violating the league’s PED policy. He returned to a smaller role where he played less than a third of the team’s defensive snaps. He recorded 1.5 sacks in 12 games (3 starts). Copeland adds depth to New England’s linebacker unit but his primary function should come on special teams.

Copeland recorded five sacks as a situational edge rusher last year and was re-signed in March. The Jets are painfully thin on the edge, so this hurts them the first month of the season, even if Copeland isn’t exactly a name player.

Signed to a one-year deal last March, Copeland had a mini-breakout with five sacks in 2018. He could once again play a large role on a defense still in need of pass-rushing help.

Copeland was a late bloomer, bouncing around the league as a practice-squad player after going undrafted out of Penn in 2013. He finally got a chance with the Lions last season and made the most of it by logging 14 tackles and half a sack while playing as a reserve linebacker and special teamer. Now he’s made the transition to defensive end and will compete with Anthony Zettel and Deonte Gibson for one of the final roster spots.

He was an exclusive rights free agent. Copeland logged 140 snaps as a reserve linebacker last season. He also played an active role on special teams. The 25-year-old is entering his third season with the Lions.

Copeland appeared in all 16 games last season, mainly on special teams. He’s another casualty of the preseason opener, joining DE Kerry Hyder (Achilles’).

Schefter didn’t report which teams Copeland is visiting. A 2013 undrafted free agent out of Ivy League Penn, Copeland has had stints with the Titans and Ravens, but never appeared in a regular-season game. NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah reports Copeland showed “good speed” at last weekend’s event.

Copeland was the buzz of the Veteran Combine, running a 4.52 40-yard dash. The 25-year-old (in July) 2013 undrafted free agent will fight for a spot on the Lions’ special-teams unit.

Copeland missed all of last season with a torn pectoral. He played in all 16 games for Detroit the previous season and will likely focus on special teams.