7 Terrell Edmunds replacement options for Steelers in the 2023 NFL Draft

3. Chamarri Conner, 6’, 202, Virginia Tech

Perhaps the Steelers will go back to the Virginia Tech well to replace Terrell Edmunds. Chamarri Conner is an exceptionally versatile defender who is another one of my personal draft crushes. Conner is a four-year starter for the Hokies. He played more of a traditional safety role this past season, but in years prior, he spent the vast majority of his time in the slot. Conner has played a ton of football in Blacksburg and finished 10th all-time in career tackles for Virginia Tech.

Conner would immediately become an asset in run defense for the Steelers. He’s very smart, disciplined, and patient in run defense. He is very good at covering tight ends in man coverage and executed a wide variety of zone coverage assignments for Virginia Tech. Conner is not the best ballhawk (four career interceptions, zero in 2022), but he also has forced four fumbles in his career. 

However, as a later-round, older prospect, Conner might lack the developmental ceiling to be an improvement over Edmunds. For all his faults, Edmunds was drafted at 21 years old and tested exceptionally well, providing the possibility that he could grow into a much better player. Conner won’t be drafted anywhere near as high as Edmunds, and he still tested decently well.

But he spent five years in college, most likely meaning he will enter the NFL closer to 23 or possibly even 24 years old. Therefore, it would not shock me to see Pittsburgh select Conner in the later rounds (four or five ideally) but his expectations should be significantly lower than Edmunds’ ever were.