Daijun

Edwards

Edwards signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia, where he led the Bulldogs in rushing last season. He was brought in to compete for a back-end roster spot but was let go in the Steelers’ Monday round of cuts. The Steelers are rolling with Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and Cordarrelle Patterson in the backfield with La’Mical Perine potential hanging around as the RB4. Edwards tallied seven carries for 37 yards and a touchdown in the preseason and has a chance to latch onto a practice squad heading into the season.

Spending four years at Georgia, Edwards(5’10/207) enters the draft after a productive 2023 season. Leading the Bulldogs in rushing, he totaled 165 carries for 880 yards and 13 touchdowns, adding 20 receptions for 197 yards in 12 games. Edwards worked just ahead of fellow draftee Kendall Milton in the Georgia backfield, taking more of the early down and pass-catching opportunities. He did not run the 40-yard dash but participated in running back drills at the combine. Edwards tested with a 9’6 broad jump, the worst amongst RBs. However, his college production consists of lateral ability and strength in his running. Likely a late-round pick, Edwards won’t be an early down back in the NFL but could complement a committee with his strong running style.

Edwards (5'11/205) took an official visit to Athens this past weekend. The four-star back out of Moultrie, Georgia, slots onto the 247Sports composite board as the No. 279 overall prospect in the 2020 class. Talented though Edwards might be, the real intrigue with this one might come in how it impacts five-star RB Zachary Evans. Evans signed his NLI with Georgia in December but was subsequently released from it. Edwards’ commitment, here, could indicate that the Bulldogs are opting out of the Evans drama altogether, now. We’ll see. Evans’ recruitment could potentially stretch into the spring, as anything he signs upcoming will be a non-binding financial aid agreement (you can only sign one NLI per academic year), meaning he could theoretically sign agreements with multiple programs before making a final call (you may recall a similar drama with WR Demetris Robertson a few years back).

Georgia and Tennessee have managed to make a strong impression on Edwards (5'11/205), who at different points in his recruitment considered committing to the two SEC programs. “I have been close to committing a couple of times,” Edwards told Simmons. “I have thought about it with Georgia and Tennessee. I really like both schools a lot, but Tennessee is really up there for me right now.” The four-star running back plans to visit Tennessee at some point in June, the first time he will have visited the campus. Other power conference programs that have offered Edwards in recent weeks are Colorado, Maryland, Nebraska, TCU and Virginia Tech.