Pittsburgh Steelers undrafted free agent running back Daijun Edwards turned heads at Day 1 of rookie minicamp, according to veteran beat writer Mark Kaboly of The Athletic.
“I would keep an eye on Steelers rookie RB Daijun Edwards. Looks the part,” Kaboly wrote on X.
Edwards, 23, is a 5-foot-10, 201-pound running back that spent four years with the Georgia Bulldogs, the last two as the team’s primary running back. In 2022, the Norman Park, Georgia native rushed 140 times for 769 yards and seven touchdowns at 5.5 yards per carry on the way to his second consecutive College Football Playoff National Championship. In 2023, he ran the ball 164 times for 881 yards and 13 touchdowns and 5.4 yards per carry.
Edwards did not test well in the pre-draft process. He ran a 4.7-second 40-yard dash and posted a 4.32-second shuttle, 7.2-second three-cone drill, 30-inch vertical and 9-foot-6 broad jump. His Relative Athletic Score is a 1.90 out of 10.
Edwards was expected to be drafted, and was the No. 242 overall player on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board. The Steelers showed extensive pre-draft interest in Edwards, scouting him in person at the 2024 Senior Bowl and then sending general manager Omar Khan, head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to the Georgia pro day.
He’s the fourth Steelers offensive player added to the team from Georgia over the last three seasons, slotting in alongside wide receiver George Pickens (second round, 2022), tackle Broderick Jones (first round, 2023) and tight end Darnell Washington (third round, 2023).
There appears to be a path for Edwards to make an impact with the Steelers in 2023. The team did not retain its No. 3 and No. 4 running backs from last season, Godwin Igewebuike and Anthony McFarland Jr. They signed veteran Cordarelle Patterson to fill one of those roles, but Edwards could certainly grab the other with a strong training camp.
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