The fourth player taken in the draft by the Bucs (and fourth defensive player taken) was safety Mike Edwards from Kentucky. Edwards was a Swiss Army Knife back in college and has been able to have a similar impact for the Bucs. Edwards has lined up across the field for the Bucs and has complied a diverse stat sheet after playing a number of different roles.
Mike Edwards was drafted to help fill the holes on the defense and provide some consistency at a position that has struggled with injuries in the past for the Bucs. The Buccaneers have Jordan Whitehead on roster as a solid safety and also have Andrew Adams who provides an experienced presence on the defense. While not possessing a commanding lead of the starting role, Edwards has shown that he can be a part of the future in the secondary alongside SMB and Jamel Dean.
Edwards is able to line up all over the defense and his stats reflect that. Edwards has 1 sack on the season and has been close to adding several others. In addition, he also has 4 passes defended and 33 total tackles. While many Bucs fans chastise Jason Licht for passing on Derwin James, Mike Edwards is able to serve a similar role and has a very bright future ahead of him.