4 reasons Steelers need to lock up SS Terrell Edmunds long-term

Steelers safety has made major strides

Whether you are a fan of Terrell Edmunds or not, there’s no denying that the Steelers safety made significant strides in his third NFL season last year, and his jump in play was evident from game to game. This is something that didn’t necessarily show up in the box score, but advanced statistics confirm what we saw on film.

Last season, Edmunds recorded just 68 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss. Statistically, this is a big drop from what he recorded in 2019 (105 tackles and 2 tackles for a loss). However, he drastically improved in areas that were far more important than raw numbers. Edmunds recorded two interceptions last season (both against Jacksonville), and his 8 pass defenses are more than he had in the previous two seasons combined.

However, his advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference are what indicate the biggest improvement in his game. In 2019, Edmunds surrendered 10.3 yards per target in coverage and allowed 4 touchdowns when targeted for a cringe-worthy 131.6 passer rating. Last season, that number was almost cut in half. Through 15 games in 2020, Edmunds allowed just 8.0 yards per target and gave up 1 touchdown on 45 passes thrown in his direction. This resulted in allowing just a 70.8 passer rating last year. He is clearly trending in the right direction and was arguably the most improved player on the team last year.