Courtney

Upshaw

The Jaguars draft seventh overall and the Bills tenth, and each team has a glaring need at defensive end. Upshaw, a 6-foot-2, 273-pound outside linebacker in Alabama’s 3-4 defense, can play both positions. At the very least, Upshaw will be under consideration at both Buffalo and Jacksonville’s picks.

“I just didn’t see the explosion that you want to see from a pass rusher off the edge,” wrote Casserly. Added Lande, "(Upshaw) was upright and stiff in drops, could not flip his hips to change direction quickly and lacked the explosiveness and burst that NFL teams wanted to see.” Upshaw was a 3-4 outside linebacker at Alabama, but he may be ticketed for 4-3 left defensive end in the pros.

According to Rotoworld draft guru Josh Norris, it’s “obvious during games” that Upshaw lacks “elite burst.” Rather, Norris says Upshaw “wins with persistence and tenacity.” Therefore, the relatively pedestrian forty times are unsurprising. We like Upshaw’s fit better as a 4-3 defensive end as opposed to a 3-4 outside linebacker, but he’s certainly got the versatility to play both. He did weigh in at 279 Thursday, up six pounds from the Combine. At the heavier weight, Upshaw much more looks the part of a 4-3 end than outside ‘backer.

One of the most relentless pass rushers in college football the past two years, Upshaw lived in opposing backfields in the SEC. While he projects to be a strong starter, Upshaw dropped to the second round due to concerns that he lacks difference-making explosiveness off the edge. He also figures to struggle in coverage while making the adjustment from putting his hand in the dirt. Upshaw will offer insurance in case Paul Kruger struggles in his first season as a starter.

Once considered a likely early first-round pick, Upshaw showed up to his Pro Day at 279 pounds. The weight reportedly surprised even Upshaw. If he gets his weight under control, this could obviously be a steal for Baltimore. Upshaw will enter camp pushing Paul Kruger for a starting job at strong-side ‘backer.

Cox appears to be a notch above Dontari Poe and Michael Brockers, two defensive tackles the Cowboys also “like” even if they haven’t visited. Although Alabama OLB/DE Courtney Upshaw did visit Dallas recently, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram hears that he won’t be a consideration at No. 14 overall.

“We have been always since I’ve been here,” said Smith. Three of the Chargers’ 2011 Pro Bowl players (Philip Rivers, Ryan Mathews, Eric Weddle) were acquired via draft-day trades. Profootballtalk’s Evan Silva has the Bolts selecting Alabama OLB Courtney Upshaw in his most recent mock draft.

“Not happening, not at 16,” Cimini says. Though Upshaw makes some sense on the surface for the pass rush-needy Jets, he’s not the dynamic kind of talent Rex Ryan is looking for. By all accounts -- reinforced by a Thursday afternoon report from ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio -- the Jets much prefer Melvin Ingram.

The Bengals’ interest in Upshaw has been known for months, although they may not necessarily be so locked in if players like Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd, North Carolina’s Quinton Coples, and Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick start falling. What is clear is Cincinnati has a first-round grade on Upshaw, whereas many teams are less high on him. He’s a realistic possibility at 17 or 21.

Originally expected to compete with Paul Kruger for the strong-side linebacker job, Upshaw is now ticketed for Terrell Suggs’ role. The Ravens had a top-15 grade on Upshaw, who fell to them (just as Suggs did) in the second round after a disappointing Combine. He could be the next great Ravens linebacker.