Pittsburgh Steelers: There’s a reason Terrell Edmunds is a Steeler

It wasn’t the flashiest or most exciting pick of the night, but the Pittsburgh Steelers came through with a winner at No. 28.

Plenty of highly-scouted players were still on the board as Pittsburgh was debating their pick. Many believed Lamar Jackson had snuck his way to the Steelers, or that a running back was the move after Rashaan Evans and Leighton Vander Esch escapes the board. Ronnie Harrison and Justin Reid were even around.

Pittsburgh went Edmunds, though, and it has fans feeling 50/50 about the matter. People didn’t think about him and that’s his biggest knock. Besides just the unknowing point of less analysis on Steelers sights or in mock drafts, fans were glad to hear the electrifying safety come to the City of Champions.

And they should be. Edmunds brings the best of both worlds to the table. Playing behind Sean Davis and Morgan Burnett, Edmunds will get plenty of action at both free and strong safety. He’ll also be a warning sign for Davis to improve and Burnett to prove himself quick.

He comes to Pittsburgh after three seasons at Virginia Tech. There, he recorded 196 tackles and six picks. Not huge coverage numbers, but impressive for a safety that can play both run and pass.

This is exactly what the Steelers needed. There is plenty of inside linebackers still available, and with the Martavis Bryant trade, one more option in the third round.

The knock is that Pittsburgh could’ve waited. Edmunds would’ve been around at the end of the second-round. With Ronnie Harrison and Justin Reid still on the board, the Steelers had options on defense, and some believe, they jumped the gun.

But, as outliers, we don’t see it all. Mike Tomlin and the front office saw something in this kid and wanted to get him. They’ve pulled enough stars out of the draft to put faith in them. Now, it’s just a waiting game to see how he develops.

Next: 5 games to look forward to in 2018

No one saw it coming, but the Pittsburgh Steelers have their newest safety. Everyone seems to respect it, as they should, and this team is ready to move forward with confidence. The names still available are future stars, and Pittsburgh has every chance of finding more of them.

Round one was a win. Now, it’s time to complete another stellar draft class.