Former second round draft pick Courtney Upshaw never developed into the defensive playmaker that the Ravens were looking for when they took him with the 35th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, and the free agent linebacker is eager to prove himself next season as he looks to join a new team.
Upshaw has not missed a game since entering the league four seasons ago, and he is coming off a strong season in which he recorded 51 combined tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, three fumbles recoveries and two passes defended. Coming out of Alabama, the edge-rushing linebacker was expected to make an immediate impact in the league, and despite some criticism in Baltimore, Upshaw is looking forward to proving himself on the field next season.
"He's a tough, tough guy, and I don't know if Courtney has missed a practice all year," said Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees following the 2015 season. "If he has, it's maybe one, and I don't know if there's any; and you know he's hurting. He's beat up. You don't play that position and not get beat up." While the Ravens defensive coordinator knows that he lost a tough player to free agency this offseason, multiple teams are becoming interesting in him.
The former Ravens linebacker's first visit is reportedly with the New York Jets on Thursday, and if he doesn't sign there, multiple teams will surely take a crack at signing him. The San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots reportedly could be suitors for the former Ravens linebacker, and it wouldn't be surprising if Upshaw proved himself to be a legitimate defensive weapon with a new team in 2016.
Upshaw has been praised for his run-stuffing ability since he came out of college, but he will need to improve on his pass rushing skills with a new franchise and could make a strong fit in a rotation with the New England Patriots. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been known to get the most out of his players, and a talent of Upshaw's caliber could provide New England with another impact playmaker at the linebacker position.
It's unclear how interested either the 49ers or Patriots are in Upshaw at this time, but expect multiple teams to meet with the former Ravens linebacker if he doesn't land with a new team soon.