Can WR Jacob Copeland Make the Roster Due to His Connection With Steelers From a Season Ago?
Rookie wide receiver Roman Wilsin details how he formed a bond with his new positional coach just days after arriving in Pittsburgh.
Second-year wide receiver Jacob Copeland spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. He spent two short stints on the team’s practice squad but was never elevated to the active roster. When the Steelers brought him in last year, he was no stranger to the Steelers top brass.
The Steelers scouted Copeland in the pre-draft process at the East-West Shrine Bowl and his Maryland pro day, where he turned in an excellent Relative Athletic Score of 8.19, showing excellent straight-line speed with a 4.42-second 40-yard dash, great explosiveness with a 10-foot-7 broad jump but below-average agility with just a 4.47-second short shuttle.
Regardless, the Steelers liked him enough to bring him in once they had the chance to. Now with a full offseason inside of the building, Copeland looks to make a name for himself.
In college, Copeland was never the do-it-all type of wide receiver but managed to produce on a consistent level in two of the top collegiate conferences, the Big Ten and the SEC. He finished his collegiate career with 112 receptions, 1,742 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns.
When the Steelers added multiple veteran wide receivers this offseason, it placed a big roadblock in Copeland’s path to the 53-man roster. As the team will likely roster five receivers on the 53-man roster, Copeland is on the outside looking in.
Guys like George Pickens, Calvin Austin, Quez Watkins, Roman Wilson and Jefferson are considered as the frontrunners for roster spots. This leaves very little wiggle room for a guy like Copeland to make the roster let alone the practice squad but given his circumstances, Copeland is likely fighting for a spot on the team’s practice squad once again in 2024.
Regardless, Copeland should receiver many chances to showcase his talents in his first preseason with the Steelers when camp opens later this week. If he fails to crack the 53-man roster, Copeland is a top candidate to return to the practice squad. He will join guys like Duece Watts, Scotty Miller and Marquez Callaway as fringe roster guys that are all fighting for one or two spots on the Steelers practice squad.
• Jacob Copeland, Wide Receiver, Maryland
6-foot-0, 202 pounds, 25 years old, 2nd Season
Acquired: The Steelers originally signed Jacob Copeland to their practice squad on Nov. 28, 2023. He was with the team on two separate occasions before the Kansas City Chiefs signed him to their practice squad.
Last Season: Jacob Copeland signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent last spring, but was waived at the start of training camp on Aug. 2, 2023. He then signed with the Minnesota Vikings, but was released on cut-down day on Aug. 29, 2023.
Copeland first joined the Steelers practice squad on Sept. 12, 2023 and remained there through Oct. 3. He then came back to the practice squad on Nov. 28 and was released on Dec. 4. He then signed a future contract with Kansas City for 2024 in January, but was released on May 4, 2024.
| Year | GP | GS | Receptions | Rec. Yards | Rec. TDs |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
College: Jacob Copeland spent the first four seasons of his collegiate football career at the University of Florida. Copeland left high school as a top recruit and participated in the Under Armour All American High School All-Star game. Florida redshirted Copeland during his freshman season. He did appear in three games for the Gators in 2018 though. He did haul in one reception for 16 yards on the season.
In 2019, Copeland appeared in all 13 games, with time at wide receiver and on special teams. He finished the season with 21 receptions for 273 yards and two touchdowns. He followed that up with a relatively similar junior season.
In 2021, Copeland had a career-high 41 receptions for 642 yards and four touchdowns for the Gators. He transferred to Maryland following his redshirt junior season.
At Maryland, Copeland played in 12 games and hauled in 26 passes for 376 yards and two touchdowns. Overall, through his five years in college, Copeland played in 52 games, hauling in 112 receptions, 1,742 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns.
| Year | School | GP | Receptions | Rec. Yards | Rec. TDs |
| 2018 | Florida | 3 | 1 | 16 | 0 |
| 2019 | Florida | 13 | 21 | 273 | 2 |
| 2020 | Florida | 11 | 23 | 435 | 3 |
| 2021 | Florida | 13 | 41 | 642 | 4 |
| 2022 | Maryland | 12 | 26 | 376 | 2 |
Salary cap and future: The Steelers signed Jacob Copeland to a one-year contract this offseason as a “street” free agent. If he makes the team, Copeland will cost $795,000 against the team’s 2024 cap space. With none of Copeland’s contract being guaranteed, if the Steelers decided to cut him, they would not face any dead money penalties.
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