Terrell Edmunds

Edmunds led the Steelers in defensive snaps last season and signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract in April to return to the team for the 2022 season. He should serve as Pittsburgh's starting strong safety once again this year after he totaled 89 tackles (63 solo), a sack, two interceptions and six pass defenses while appearing in all 17 games in 2021.

Edmunds ranked third on the team with 68 tackles (47 solo) in 2020, but the Steelers still declined his fifth-year option in early May. As a result, the safety is slated to hit free agency following the 2021 campaign. The 2018 first-round pick averaged 83.7 tackles per season across his first three years in the league, but only totaled three total interceptions during that time. Edmunds is poised to play a prominent role in the secondary once again during a contract year.

The Steelers appear committed to Edmunds in a three-down role, so there's time for the highly-athletic safety to develop into an IDP force as he heads into his age-22 season. Like his brother Tremaine, Terrell is ridiculously young for his experience level, so there's reason to assume the potential for substantial growth in the future. To this point, though, Edmunds' IDP utility has been mediocre at best. He has one sack and one interception on 2,019 defensive snaps, and this lack of playmaking isn't offset especially well in the tackle column. Edmunds' tackle rate through two seasons projects to only about 91 tackles per 1,000 snaps. At 6-1, 217 with a 4.47 40, 41.5-inch vertical and 134-inch broad jump, he has rare athletic tools to work with, so if his instincts start to catch on he could turn into a star in a hurry.

Edmunds lived up to the pressure of being drafted 28th overall and will look to avoid a sophomore slump in 2019 following an impressive rookie season. He returns as the starting strong safety with little competition to challenge him for playing time, but he'll need to add to his sack and turnover totals to have IDP value.

Drafted with the 28th overall pick, Edmunds adds depth in the secondary and seems to have a nose for the ball, totaling six interceptions and 20 passes defended in his three years at Virginia Tech. His size and speed suggest he is capable of great things, but it is unclear how much playing time he will see in his first season with Pittsburgh.