Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Grades and reactions for day-two selections
By Cory Kinnan
Mike Edwards, S, Kentucky
There is no opposition to taking a safety at the end of the third round of the draft, but it will be interesting to hear why the Buccaneers chose Mike Edwards over the likes of Florida’s Chauncey Gardner-Johnson or Iowa’s Amani Hooker.
Edwards posted a ton of production at Kentucky, contributing in all four years in Lexington. Bordering on the edge of 100 total tackles over the last three years of his collegiate career, Edwards is a physical box safety, similar to the brand of new Buc Deone Bucannon who came out of Washington State as a safety but plays the majority of his reps in the box.
As a part of the Wildcats defense, Edwards tallied ten career interceptions to go along with 21 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Additionally he forced two fumbles and knocked down 23 extra passes.
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At 5’10 and 206 pounds, Edwards tested as an above average athlete, running a 4.5 40 yard dash, hitting 37 inches on his vertical jump and 9’8 feet on his broad jump. He has all the makings of a box safety in the NFL and the Buccaneers could be looking to pair him with Justin Evans in the third level of their defense in order to mold a physical style of defense.