Once an afterthought, Edmunds becomes one of Steelers’ most reliable defensive players
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Terrell Edmunds has gone from a player the Pittsburgh Steelers showed little desire to keep to one that they might not want to move forward without.
Over a span of less than a year between spring 2021 and late-April of this year, Edmunds was dealt a series of what could be described as blows to his ego from the Steelers. But after having his fifth-year contract option declined, after not being offered a long-term extension, after being allowed to hit free agency and after waiting six weeks to accept what, for a five-year veteran is a bargain of a contract at $2.54 million for one season, Edmunds arguably has responded with what has been his best pro season.
“I mean, you know, it’s just life,” the starting strong safety said this week. “You go through things, and it’s just how you react to them. You’ve just got to react to what life comes at you with. How are you going to take it from there? You’ve got to keep on going. A lot of people probably would have folded, but I am not one of those type guys.”
Edmunds is playing a significant role for the Steelers, who play at the Indianapolis Colts on Monday. Only Alex Highsmith has played more defensive snaps this season than Edmunds, who has played more special-teams snaps than any starter on the team.
If the Pro Football Focus grades mean anything, Edmunds has been the Steelers’ seventh best among their 22 starters and 14th best among all of the 64 NFL safeties who have played the most this season.
“He’s a vet, through and through,” second-year Steelers defensive back Tre Norwood said. “It’s good to have a guy like that on back end.”
The ease and natural way with which Edmunds relates to teammates is shown during practices and down time at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Edmunds often socializes with players of all levels of experience and from both sides of the ball.
“I love playing with him,” free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said. “He’s a great guy to be around in the locker room, off the field, on the field.”
But will Fitzpatrick and Edmunds on-field partnership extend beyond this season? They have formed a duo for four seasons. But while the Steelers picked up Fitzpatrick’s $10.61 million fifth-year option in May 2021, they declined Edmunds’ $6.75 million at the same time.
Fitzpatrick was signed to a five-year contract this past summer. Edmunds is not tied to the Steelers beyond this season.
The third longtime member of the Steelers’ secondary, Cameron Sutton, also is a free agent after the season.
“Definitely, we have gotten familiar with each other. We understand each other,” Edmunds said. “But it’s all life. We would all love to play with each other, for sure, but whatever happens. We will just figure that out when that time comes. We’ve still got seven games together.”
Fitzpatrick is among those who would like to see Edmunds stay.
“We complement each other really well and help each other be better players,” Fitzpatrick said. “Having (Edmunds), it allows me to play more free and make plays because I know he’s going to be where he’s supposed to be. We can play fast because of each other. He’s definitely having a great year.”
Edmunds has missed only two of 75 games (counting playoffs) since joining the Steelers as the No. 28 overall pick in 2018. At the height of the Steelers’ defensive reputation a couple of years back, there was a point during which he was looked at by some as the weakest — albeit reliable — link in defense.
Today, with the defense struggling (fifth worst in the NFL in yards allowed, seventh worst in point), a case could be made that the 25-year-old Edmunds’ dependability and veteran savvy might be more valuable than ever.
“I definitely still feel young, and I am definitely growing (mentally) every year,” Edmunds said. “And that’s just my mindset about it, just constantly growing every year. I’ve definitely always had the (veteran) mentality but just embracing it and just trying to keep the same routines.
“As far as next year, you never know. Right now, I’m just so focused on trying to get a game won against the Colts. And we’ll go from there.”
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