As Bryan Edwards joins the Saints, he does so in an under-the-radar fashion for a former Raiders third-round pick who seemed to have built a rapport with Derek Carr in Year 2.
He was traded to the Atlanta Falcons at the start of last season, but caught just 3 passes over 7 games before being cut. But he arrives on the Saints looking to set the record straight, and with a clear ability that could help him stand out: Contested catches. Of his 34 catches in 2021, 10 were contested, according to Pro Football Focus. No player on the Saints had more than 8 in the 2022 season.
“Being a bigger receiver in today’s NFL, you have to be able to make those 50-50 catches and turn them into more of an 80-20 play," Edwards told Mike Detillier and Bobby Hebert on SportsTalk this week. "So I try to pride myself on doing those things and being really good at it. I think it’s one of those things that kind of comes with the territory of being a bigger receiver.”
Listen to the full interview with Bryan Edwards in the player above. Can't see the embed? Click here.
The 24-year South Carolina native now joins the Saints with a chance to showcase the skillset, again catching passes from Carr. At 6-3, 215 pounds, he could offer some valuable protection for Michael Thomas' role, with the veteran struggling to stay on the field in recent seasons. Thomas re-signed on a 1-year, incentive-laden deal with injuries limiting him to just 10 games played since his record-setting 2019 season.
Saints head coach Dennis Allen explained this week what drew the team to its newest WR signing. One feather in his cap was his performance in Week 2 of the 2020 season, when he caught 2 passes for 42 yards and also caught the eye of the Saints coaching staff.
“We had a lot of really good grades on him coming out of the draft, and so we felt really good about that, we felt good about the relationship that he had with Derek," the head coach said. "I know that when we played him out in Vegas in the 2020 season I was impressed with some of the things I saw in terms of a big, physical pass-catcher.”
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MORE FROM EDWARDS
WHAT WENT WRONG IN ATLANTA?
“That’s a great question. I just think when I was in Atlanta, I think we struggled as an offense, and when you’re struggling as an offense and you’re also a new player in a new system it’s kind of hard for you to find your footing," Edwards said. "So I think a lot of factors contributed to me not really having the success that I wanted to have. There were just a lot of miscommunications between me and the staff, so it just didn’t work out for me.”
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WHAT ARE THE SAINTS GETTING IN DEREK CARR?
“Derek is a great leader. He is extremely accurate and I feel like he’s just in command," Edwards said. "He’s a pro’s pro. They’re going to get a guy that works hard every day and is not afraid to be the hardest worker in the room. He’s not afraid to put stuff out there. I have a ton of respect for his game and what he does.”
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WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING TO IMPROVE IN YOUR GAME
“For me it’s just, I feel like, becoming a complete receiver in all aspects, my knowledge for the game and growing as a pro and recognizing coverages and knowing how to beat certain coverages that are thrown at me," Edwards said. "I feel like that’ll really take me to the next level.”
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