Broncos Should Have Interest in FA LB Brandon Copeland

The veteran combine has already been a success for the NFL, as a couple of players are getting signed to rosters. The Denver Broncos have yet to sign anyone from the event, though that could change.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, 11 teams are interested in linebacker Brandon Copeland, formerly an undrafted free agent out of Penn who has a chance to crack a roster this season after an impressive workout in front of scouts.

It wouldn’t be the first time Copeland has had an impressive workout. At a regional Combine last year, he posted a 4.72 40 yard dash, a 1.62 10-yard split, 30 bench press reps at 225 pounds, and a 32.5″ vertical jump.

Copeland’s workout was good enough then to get him a look from the Titans and Ravens, but he couldn’t crack an NFL roster. At 6’2″ 265 pounds, he is a defensive end/linebacker hybrid, which we’re now just calling “EDGE” players in the draft community.

This is a really explosive athlete with great lateral speed and agility as well, especially for his size.

For the Broncos, Copeland would play the same position as DeMarcus Ware or Von Miller, and he’d have a chance to play in a scheme with Wade Phillips that would really suit his skills perfectly.

The Broncos have a few guys who are intriguing in terms of being able to add to the pass rush behind Miller and Ware at this point, but there’s always room for more guys that can get after the quarterback on your roster.

As it stands right now, Copeland would be competing with the likes of Quanterus Smith, Shaquil Barrett, Lerentee McCray, and Chase Vaughn.

There have been no connections made between the Broncos and Copeland, at least that we know of, but with 11 teams reportedly interested, it would make sense that a team transitioning to a 3-4 defense would take this kind of risk on a player that can fit what they’re trying to do and that is hungry to earn his way back into the league.

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