Steelers UDFA RB Daijun Edwards Has a Chip on His Shoulder

Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson are the Pittsburgh Steelers top three running backs, but undrafted free agent Daijun Edwards out of Georgia is a player to keep an eye on at OTAs and in training camp.

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.

With those kind of numbers and playing at one of the best college football programs in the country, it’s a mystery how Edwards went undrafted. The former Georgia Bulldog definitely has a chip on his shoulder because of it.

“I mean, of course, there’s a fuel to the fire,” Edwards said. “Every day, I just come with a chip on my shoulder. Just trying to do what I can do.”

The Steelers have three former Georgia products on their roster in George Pickens, Broderick Jones and Darnell Washington. Having three former college teammates in Pittsburgh adds a little comfort for Edwards, who’s living outside the state of Georgia for the first time.

“Especially Darnell and Broderick. We came into college together, so having those two around, it helps a lot,” Edwards said.

Edwards has a slight advantage over the other running backs trying to make the team due to running behind Jones and Washington in Athens.