Greener On The Other Side

Longtime Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds traded in his black and gold threads for Midnight Green last week, agreeing to terms Friday on a one-year deal.

Amid the second wave of the free agency limbo, it was conversations with the Eagles’ coaching staff that ultimately lured Edmunds cross state after spending five seasons in Pittsburgh, a place he praised for its culture and relationships with teammates.

“It started off football and then it got to knowing the real person,” Edmunds said Friday regarding the conversational subject matter.

“Just talking and learning about the culture of Philadelphia, about the Eagles. And everything that the Eagles stand on, I think that’s something I really fell in love with. Just going out there, having that dog mentality, putting everything out there on the line for the person beside you and playing as one. I think that’s something that really drove me to come here.”

GETTY IMAGES: The allure of being an Eagle led former Steelers S Terrell Edmunds to sign with Philadelphia.

Edmunds, 26, becomes the latest addition to the Eagles’ motley crew-laden safety room, joining Reed Blankenship, K’Von Wallace and Justin Evans, among some others.

Of those, Edmunds projects to be the team’s lone viable starting option, appearing in 79 career games (75 starts) and having logged nearly 5,000 snaps.

He appeared in 15 games last season, registering 70 tackles (3 for loss), two sacks, and five passes defended while accounting for 93 percent of Pittsburgh’s defensive snaps.

The special teams factor further enhances Edmunds’ allure, as he has accumulated 534 career third-phase snaps, 107 of which came last season.

Among the advantages of Edmunds’ fresh start is that his arrival in Philadelphia coincides with newly appointed defensive coordinator Sean Desai.

From what we know of Desai’s schematic blueprint — and the demands required of his personnel – it’s likely that much of Edmunds’ appeal was due to his multifaceted skill set.

“I’d definitely say I’m a versatile player,” Edmunds said. “Someone that’s just gonna go out there and give everything I got in whatever position that the coach puts me in.

“So, wherever they need me to go, I’m gonna go out there and give 110 percent. I’m just ready to work now. I’m excited. I’m ready to go out there and put on for Philly.”

The No. 28 overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, Edmunds entered the league with heightened expectations, which the Virginia Tech standout approached in stride.

“I think it has to go back to something that my parents told me, about just keep on going,” Edmunds explained. “’Sometimes, there’s nothing else to say. You just have to put your head down, keep on working, keep on building – because a lot of people can’t get over adversity.

“But sometimes you just gotta keep on pushing and have that never-quit mentality. And I think that’s something that we pride ourselves on as a family.”

After signing a modest deal at the tail end of free agency’s second wave, Edmunds’ arrival in Philadelphia is a stark contrast to his experience five years ago, when he faced the pressure of fulfilling the potential of being a first-rounder.

Sure, Edmunds’ resume and consistency suggest he can make an impact on a new team. And yes, versatility tends to translate favorably.

But Edmunds, as of now, is by far the preeminent option on a middling unit. His clean slate in Philadelphia renders it unlikely that he’ll be measured on his first-round pedigree.

Rather, Edmunds’ inclusion into the equation inspires optimism, tempered as it might be for a potential one-year rental.

Assuming he seizes a starting role, the 6-foot-1, 217-pound safety will have the luxury of playing in a secondary flanked by perhaps the league’s most prolific cornerback tandem in Darius Slay and James Bradberry.

Avonte Maddox manning the slot also alleviates apprehension and can aid in masking deficiencies.

Ideally, Edmunds will work in tandem with an incoming draftee rather than one of the aforementioned trio looming on the depth chart.

And if the Eagles get the Steelers’ version of Edmunds, they can stake claim to another top value signing from free agency.

As Edmunds turns the page to the next chapter of his career, he’s focused of rewriting the narrative and indoctrinating himself into the impassioned Philadelphia culture.

“I guess the next step, you could say, is just being an Eagle,” he said. “All old narratives can change now because you’re in a new spot. You got a chance to make a new impression.

“You got a chance to go out there and put everything out there and really buy into the culture and go out there with new teammates and do everything you have to do.

“And just give everything I can to the Eagles organization, be very for this opportunity, and not let anyone down.”

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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