Getty Terrell Edmunds celebrates an interception.
Update: The Philadelphia Eagles have signed Terrell Edmunds to a one-year deal, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
One week of 2023 NFL free agency is in the books, and safety Terrell Edmunds remained one of two high-priority former Pittsburgh Steelers free agents on the market. That is, until March 23.
The morning started with Edmunds sending Steelers nation into a tizzy with a wordless tweet. He included only the salute emoji, representing respect, recognition, gratitude, pride and unity. It can also signify hello or goodbye. “WHAT DOES IT MEAN?” is what inquiring minds wanted to know.
Apparently, for Edmunds, it means goodbye. He posted another cryptic tweet bidding adieu to his former Steelers team a few hours later. We don’t know where he’s going, but by the looks of it, it’s not Pittsburgh.
“Thank you Pittsburgh for making my dreams come to reality! You will forever be apart of me and my journey! I’m thankful for all of my coaches, teammates and every fan supporting! To my bruddas y’all kno how we rockin, it’s gonna be luv until the wheels fall off.”
Thank you Pittsburgh for making my dreams come to reality! You will forever be apart of me and my journey! I’m thankful for all of my coaches, teammates and every fan supporting! To my bruddas y’all kno how we rockin, it’s gonna be luv until the wheels fall off 🙏🏾🖤 #ManTime🫡🔒
It’s entirely possible that Edmunds is still on the market, but the Steelers informed him that they have no intention of re-signing him.
Edmunds, 26, tested the free agent market in 2022 and briefly in 2023. He re-signed with the Steelers last spring on a one-year deal and might’ve been in a similar situation this year had he not received another offer. With top free agent safeties like Jessie Bates III, Vonn Bell, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Juan Thornhill off the market, Edmunds remained the best available option at his position.
Terrell Edmunds’ Career With Pittsburgh Steelers
Terrell Edmunds’ career with Pittsburgh has been warm and cold, and he never lived up to being a first-round selection. But it’s not really his fault. Leading up to the 2018 NFL draft, he was a consensus day-two pick – a consensus minus the Steelers, anyway. They reached for him and are now dealing with two first-round pick flops in Edmunds and Devin Bush. Had they taken him in the third round at No. 76 (where instead they selected quarterback Mason Rudolph), it might’ve looked like a better move.
@colin_dunlap the Steelers taking 3rd round guys like Terrell Edmunds in the 1st is what screws up mock drafts
Edmunds had 410 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, nine quarterback hits, two sacks, five interceptions and five passes defended in his Steelers career. These are not exactly 28th-overall kind of numbers, but he was a solid player and someone that Pittsburgh could regret not re-signing down the road.
Steelers Free Agency Update
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ needs are at non-splashy positions, so their first wave of free agency has been just that — not splashy. And though we’re still six months away from seeing whether their moves thus far will pay off, it’s been a productive offseason, and that’s all that matters.
The Steelers kicked off free agency by signing Cameron Sutton‘s backfill in All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson. They continued into the week, shoring up the defense with two of their own re-signing defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and agreeing to terms with safety Damontae Kazee. The interior offensive line got much-needed bolstering with a pair of guards (Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig) and two inside linebackers in Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts were added with departing Myles Jack (free agent), Robert Spillane (Las Vegas Raiders) and Devin Bush (Seattle Seahawks).
With the impending departure of Terrell Edmunds, safety remains a position that desperately needs addressing. While Kazee is expected to be in the black and gold once contract details are hammered out, he’s not considered the Robin to Minkah Fitzpatrick‘s Batman.
The options to replace Edmunds via free agency are slim pickings, so they will likely select one in the draft. Alabama’s Brian Branch is considered the consensus top safety from the 2023 NFL draft class. Mocks generally have him still on the board for the Steelers at No. 17, and since they now have a hole at starter to fill, Branch could be a route to take.