Thomas R. Petersen, on Twitter as @thomasrp93, posted a 2-minute-long video yesterday breaking down the film of former Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Edwards as he prepares for his second season with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Edwards joined the Eagles as an undrafted free agent after the 2019 NFL Draft, so expectations weren’t high for the Illinois native and there was a question during training camp, as there is with most UDFAs, about whether he would make the team.
As we all know now, Edwards did make the roster and ended up having an impressive rookie season by anybody’s standards.
His 86.6 ProFootballFocus grade was good for the best on the team at middle linebacker and points towards an explosion during his second season, this one where he will enter in as a starter.
T.J. Edwards processed and played the NFL run game faster, better, and more violent better than Eagles could hope for in his rookie season.
Breaking down how pullers and/or FBs change gaps and LBs adjust.#Eagles @MoveTheSticks @BuckyBrooks #ScoutSchool @TJEdwards8 pic.twitter.com/yBvQVOr3L6
— Thomas R. Petersen 🦅 (@thomasrp93) May 16, 2020
Now I don’t want to get into the minutiae of Edwards’ game and what he brings to the defense, but this breakdown continues an overall optimistic sentiment about what Edwards can be as an NFL player.
It’s impressive to make the NFL after going undrafted. It’s more impressive to play meaningful snaps on defense and step into a starting role late in the season.
Edwards has done all of this, and there’s no reason 2020 shouldn’t be a great year for the former Badger.