Bucs Starting DB Signs With Chiefs In Free Agency

Safety Mike Edwards, the Bucs’ 2019 third-round pick and a key starter throughout the 2022 season, has signed with the Chiefs, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday evening. It’s a one-year deal for $3 million, and it has the potential to reach $5 million with incentives.

Edwards has been a member of the Bucs for the past four seasons. He spent the first three seasons as a spot starter in the secondary before taking on a larger role with the departure of safety Jordan Whitehead to the New York Jets last offseason.

Known for his playmaking ability in a depth role from 2019-2021, he came into 2022 wanting to be a “ball hawk” and get more interceptions. However, he failed to reach that level with more snaps. Nonetheless, his departure leaves a big hole in Tampa Bay’s defensive backfield. Antoine Winfield Jr. is the lone starter from last year’s safety group who is still on the roster as of right now.

Mike Edwards Had Plenty Of Big Moments For Bucs

Last season, Edwards set a lot of personal bests as he was tasked with starting alongside Winfield at safety. After starting 11 games in his first three seasons combined, he started 12 games alone in 2022. With more starts came more tackles, as his 82 tackles were third on the team, ahead of Winfield and behind inside linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White.

As well as this, he contributed two interceptions, including a 68-yard pick-six on quarterback Jameis Winston that sealed the Bucs’ 20-10 win over the Saints in Week 2.

Bucs Safety Mike Edwards. – Photo by: USA Today

During his time with the Bucs, this was one of three pick-sixes Edwards had. In particular, this came in one of the best games the defense played throughout the season, as they were able to create turnovers and take pressure off of quarterback Tom Brady.

For the rest of the year, the unit was inconsistent in its ability to take the ball away, as was the play of Edwards as he battled injury and struggled at times in coverage and run defense.

Take Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades for what you will, but after a hot start to the year, Edwards finished with a cumulative 52.3 grade, the lowest of his career, and ranked 82nd out of 88 safeties. In terms of coverage, he ranked 72nd of 87 (53.6). In run defense, it came in lower at 76th of 82 (46.6).

While it was not the standard of play he wanted to enter free agency with, he was still able to parlay it into a deal with the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs.

Bucs HC Bowles Reflects On S Mike Edwards’ Tenure In Tampa

Speaking to the media during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, a couple of weeks ago, head coach Todd Bowles reflected on the play of Edwards for the team.

Bucs head coach Todd Bowles – Photo by: Matt Matera/PR

“I thought his tackling got better from when he first came in,” Bowles said. “I thought he filled in a great void playing safety, being multiple at different positions for us. Then he got nicked up a little bit and kind of played the rest of the season banged up – but I thought he was a warrior for us and he fought.”

Bowles has praised Edwards before, once calling him the team’s “most cerebral player” in January of 2022. It is clear that Bowles thought highly of Edwards, but the former Kentucky Wildcat is now headed for Kansas City.

Edwards finishes his time with the Bucs having recorded 184 total tackles and seven interceptions (including the three pick-sixes). His biggest accomplishment did not come from individual statistics, but from being a part of the Super Bowl-winning team in 2020. He had a crucial interception in the fourth quarter of the NFC Divisional Round win over the Saints during that run.

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