3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers that need to see the field more
By Rob Leeds
Mike Edwards may be the most underused player currently on the Buccaneers. After a phenomenal training camp and a decent rookie season, Edwards would have been a significant part of this defense if Tampa Bay didn’t draft Antoine Winfield Jr.
Much like the scenario with Dean, the Buccaneers probably don’t want to fix what isn’t broken, but Edwards’ production on a minimal amount of playing time is one of the most impressive stat lines of the year so far.
Edwards has mostly played on special teams this season and has only played a small role on the defensive side, but his impact has far exceeded his playtime.
After averaging just 13.8% of the defensive snaps, Edwards has two passes defended and two interceptions in the two games where he played. These two interceptions are good for second on the team, and Edwards has played less than most defensive depth pieces.
Even though the safeties are one of the most prominent bright spots for the Buccaneer defense, Tampa Bay needs to find a way to get Edwards on the field more. There are enough players that could use rest in the secondary that this isn’t too far out of the question, but Mike Edwards has easily earned more playing time than he is receiving.