Jets Free Agent Profile: What to do with OLB Brandon Copeland?

Jets Wire evaluates if New York should re-sign impending free agent outside linebacker Brandon Copeland this offseason.

Before Joe Douglas can focus on who he plans to target in free agency come March, he’ll have a handful of in-house decisions to make.

The Jets have 32 players set to hit the open market this offseason. Some don’t figure to factor into New York’s plans for 2020, while it’s safe to assume the Jets would like to keep others around for a while. Either way, Douglas has a lot of work to do in his first offseason on the job.

Brandon Copeland’s 2019 season got off to a fortuitous start, but he proved to be a relatively productive rotational linebacker as the year progressed. Will he be back with New York in 2020? Let’s evaluate the situation in Jets Wire’s latest free agent profile.

Pros of keeping him

After returning to the field in October following a four-game suspension to begin the season, Copeland made an instant impact by recording 28 tackles in his first five games. That might not seem like a big number, but considering the banged up state of New York’s linebacker room upon his return, Copeland’s production was much-needed.

Copeland also offers positional versatility. He is predominantly an edge rusher, but can also line up on the inside and make plays in the run game.

Cons of keeping him

Copeland didn’t contribute much following his strong five-game stretch, registering only seven tackles over New York’s final six games.

The fact that Copeland didn’t see much playing time down the stretch speaks volumes when it comes to his future with the team. Yes, teams who are not making the playoffs use the end of the season to give younger players an extended run, but the Jets didn’t have many linebackers in the mix due to injury.

Copeland couldn’t crack a thin linebacker core at the end of the season. With that in mind, it’s hard to see him having a spot when C.J. Mosley, Avery Williamson and Blake Cashman come back healthy next season. Factor in young edge rushers such as Jordan Jenkins and Frankie Luvu likely returning and Copeland’s future with the team becomes even grimmer.

The verdict

All signs point towards Copeland not returning next season. He is at the bottom of the pecking order in New York’s outside linebacker rotation and it’s hard to see him rising past any of Gang Green’s younger pass rushers.

Copeland had a fruitful stay at One Jets Drive, but odds are his time in Florham Park is up.