Undrafted Receiver Copeland Brings Speed To Titans

Head coach Mike Vrabel clarified that the Tennessee Titans wanted to add more speed. They did that with the signing of an undrafted free agent. The question now becomes, can Jacob Copeland make the team?

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NASHVILLE - Undoubtedly, the Tennessee Titans need to get faster. Head coach Mike Vrabel said that himself before the draft, so when the Titans added just one receiver to their roster in that draft, the question became, where could they find more speed at that position? 

Rookie seventh-round selection Colton Dowell is a needed injection of speed, but adding one player to arguably the weakest position group on the team might not be enough of an upgrade, depending on your view of the group currently occupying that room. 

However, some help could be on the horizon in the form of undrafted rookies. One in particular with a reputation for speed is former Florida turned Maryland receiver Jacob Copeland.    

Despite posting a 4.42 forty, with a 33" vertical, and a 10'7" broad jump at the combine, Copeland, who stands 5-foot-11, and 201 pounds, went undrafted. For reference, his athletic scores were the 12th best among all players at his position in Indianapolis.  

CBS Sports had this to say in its evaluation of Copeland before the draft. 

Copeland signed with the Florida Gators in the 2018 class after excelling as a receiver and returner at Escambia High School in Pensacola, Florida. He caught one pass for 16 yards in three games during his 2018 redshirt season before playing in all 13 games as a reserve in 2019 (21-273-13.0, two TDs receiving; 4-28-7.0 rushing). In 2020, Copeland started 11 games, averaging 18.9 yards per catch (23-435, three TDs). He led UF with 642 receiving yards in 2021, tying for the team lead with 41 receptions (15.7 per) and four scores in 13 games with 12 starts. Copeland entered the transfer portal after the season, however, deciding to head north to Maryland. He played in 12 games with one start in 2022 (26-376-14.5, two TDs) before opting out of the team's bowl game to prepare for the draft. -- by Chad Reuter

While the physical tools are there, as his college stats prove, Copeland has struggled with some of the finer points of playing the receiver position. The biggest knock against him is his route running. However, this may be something that can be corrected.

Granted, the Titans passed on more refined route runners in the draft and will now need to coach up an undrafted player to add to this position group potentially. 

But isn't that what they get paid to do, coach up players? And while he lacks needed traits, he brings the most challenging part to the table, the physical skills. Those can't be coached; a player either has them or doesn't. 

Copeland has them, which makes him one to watch later this month when the rookies take to the grass for the first minicamp as a group and as NFL players.       

There are no guarantees he will make this roster, but given the current situation at this position, he should have a fighting chance. He could easily find himself on the practice squad with an opportunity to continue to improve and perhaps move up as the season progresses.   

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