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By Charlie Campbell
Weaknesses:
Summary: Considering his brother is a likely high first-round pick, it has been easy for Terrell Edmunds to go under the radar. While the media hasn’t given him much attention as they focus on his brother, Tremaine Edmunds, NFL teams know Terrell Edmunds very well and rave about his NFL potential. Scouts have been high on him and his tenacious style of play going to back to last summer. As one scout said to me, “that guy plays like his hair is on fire.” Edmunds may go a round lower than his brother, but Terrell Edmunds could turn into an excellent NFL starter.
Edmunds first saw some action as a freshman, totaling 34 tackles with seven passes broken up. In 2016, Edmunds was one of the best safeties in college football, and that is saying something considering there were some big seasons from the likes of Malik Hooker, Jamal Adams and Minkah Fitzpatrick. As a sophomore, Edmunds totaled 89 tackles, four interceptions and three passes broken up. Edmunds had 59 tackles, two interceptions and four passes broken up in his 10 games as a juniot. At the NFL Scouting Combine, Edmunds did very well running an excellent 40-yard dash time of 4.47 seconds. That is a fast time for a safety.
With his skill set and versatility, Edmunds is a great fit for the current NFL. Teams like interchangeable safeties who can execute both strong and free safety. Some schemes require that given they like to flip responsibilities pre-snap to make it hard for quarterbacks to know where defenders will move and what they will be responsible for. Edmunds is very well-rounded with the ability to play both strong and free safety.
In the ground game, Edmunds is a tough defender. He is fast coming downhill and is a good tackler. Edmunds reads plays quickly and fires down on backs without hesitation. He is an asset in the ground game with the ability to be the eighth man in the box.
In pass coverage, Edmunds is a talented player. He shows an impressive ability to run with receivers downfield and maintain close coverage. Few defenders with a strong-safety build can run with receivers like Edmunds can. He lines up against slot receivers and runs the route while also running with them downfield. In zone coverage, Edmunds covers a lot of ground and picks up targets coming into his area. He breaks on the ball quickly and tracks the ball well downfield. Edmunds has the ball skills to break passes up and intercept the ball.
Edmunds is not a true single-high free safety to be the deep center fielder. He did that somewhat in college, but that is not his natural fit. A team could get away with Edmunds being deep over the top, but he shouldn’t do that constantly. Edmunds is a tight player who can have issues redirecting, and that shows up when he’s playing deep free safety. Late cuts and breaks by receivers can cause him to give up late separation when running with them downfield. Occasionally, Edmunds can take some missed steps in coverage. He is a really good player, but the stiffness and missed steps can cause him to give up some plays. Edmunds fits very well as a strong safety playing zone coverage in the short part of the field or lining up in man on tight ends or slot receivers.
Edmunds is an ideal strong safety for the current NFL. He is a real asset in pass coverage while also being a tough run defender. Multiple team sources see Edmunds as a secure second-rounder, and some believe he will go high in the second round. I think Edmunds is going to become one of the top strong safeties in the league and a Pro Bowler.
Player Comparison: Reshad Jones/Patrick Chung. Edmunds reminds me of Jones as an ideal strong safety for the current NFL. Jones (6-1, 223) and Edmunds are almost identical in size. They both can cover and are strong run defenders. In the NFL, I could see Edmunds being a Pro Bowl-caliber safety like Jones.
In reaching out to team sources, they recommend Chung as a comparison for Edmunds. Not the version of Chung who struggled early in his career, but the current player who has excelled in his second stint with the Patriots. Bill Belichick admitted the team didn’t handle Chung well during his initial run with the Patriots. Chung (5-11, 215) and Edmunds have similar size with both having the ability to cover and help in run support, so I can see the match. Chung was a high second-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, and Edmunds could go high in the second round this year.
NFL Matches: Los Angeles Chargers, Dallas, Carolina, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Washington, Tennessee and New England
In the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, there are a lot of potential landing spots for Edmunds. The Colts have a trio of second-round picks, and Edmunds could form a talented young tandem with Malik Hooker.
Tampa Bay could use a safety upgrade next to Justin Evans. Edmunds could be a nice addition to improve one of the more vulnerable pass defenses in the NFL.
There has been some talk of the Patriots drafting a safety in the early rounds, and Edmunds would be a great fit in New England’s defense. He could be a good fit for the Patriots’ high second-round pick that they got from the 49ers.
Cincinnati has shown interest in adding more talent at safety, and Edmunds would be a good fit for the Bengals. Washington could consider looking for a safety upgrade. The position isn’t a screaming need. but Edmunds could be in play for the Redskins if he’s the best player available.
Los Angeles would make a lot of sense for Edmunds. The Chargers have had a hole at safety since Eric Weddle departed in free agency. Edmunds would give them an enforcer on the back end of their defense.
Dallas also is in need of a safety upgrade after losing Barry Church in free agency. Edmunds would be a nice fit for Rod Marinelli’s scheme.
Carolina could target Edmunds in the second round. The Panthers’ safeties are ancient and need to be upgraded. Edmunds’s ability to also play some dime linebacker could help the team eventually replace Thomas Davis.
The Titans have one good safety in Kevin Byard, but Johnathan Cyprien was a disappointment. Edmunds could be an upgrade and form an excellent tandem with Byard.
San Francisco could consider a safety in the first round, but if the organization addresses another position, Edmunds would make a lot of sense for the team if he gets to its second-round selection. Eric Reid is a free agent, while Jaquiski Tartt and Jimmie Ward are in the their last year of their contracts. Both of those latter safeties were picks by the previous regime. The 49ers will probably revamp their safeties for their new scheme, and Edmunds could be their strong safety.
RELATED LINKS:
2018 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s
2018 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
2018 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 16
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
