Some execs considered Edmunds a top 15 player

[RuthlessBurgher]

Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

Mike Tomlin grades the performance of ‘pup' Terrell Edmunds -- the Steelers coach praises the first-round pick's footwork but gives his hand usage a D-minus.

[pittpete]

"hand usage"???
taking on blocks, sticking receivers or when making plays on the ball?
Just curious, that seems a little vague...

[Slapstick]

It is probably vague on purpose...I’m sure Edmunds knows about this and will work to prove coach wrong in every area of “hand usage”...

[Steel Maniac]

Hand Usage issues huh?

Guess we need to get Pee Wee Herman on the coaching staff then.

[RuthlessBurgher]

"hand usage"???
taking on blocks, sticking receivers or when making plays on the ball?
Just curious, that seems a little vague...

Steelers’ top rookie Terrell Edmunds learning from his mistakes at OTAs

The rookie safety is learning from his early mistakes at offseason workouts, and Mike Tomlin is making sure he doesn’t forget.

By Jeff Hartman
Jun 10, 2018, 12:24pm EDT

Coming into the National Football League can be an eye-opening experience for rookies. The complex systems, bigger and faster competition and the overall pressure which comes from going from amateur status to professional status. It can be a whirlwind for newcomers.

But some things never change...like catching the football.

This is something Pittsburgh Steelers top rookie Terrell Edmunds learned the hard way during the team’s Organized Team Activities (OTAs) when he dropped two interceptions in the last day of workouts before minicamp.

For those cringing while reading the above, Mike Tomlin made sure to let the rookie know the importance of these situations.

“Coach [Mike] Tomlin came and talked to us today about that,” Edmunds told Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Those are game-changing plays we can’t leave on the field because we’re trying to be a No. 1 defense. We got to make all those picks.”

“If it’s a dropped pick, it’s not a good play for us,” Edmunds said. “It’s OK, but it’s not a big play.”

The pressure players put on themselves to make plays is likely more than anything the fans and/or media put on players, and Edmunds is just ready to play some real football. You know...with pads.

“Gonna play some real football now,” Edmunds said.

“I’m ready for that,” Edmunds continued. “I haven’t had the pads on in a while. It’s time to go out and hit somebody. All those bobble catches, you might be able to knock them out. You never know how you can mess up the timing with the shoulder pads on.”

With the rookies preparing for their first NFL training camp, Edmunds is at the point where he feels as if he isn’t a rookie anymore. Or maybe how he can’t be a rookie anymore, from a learning perspective. In fact, he realizes he has to learn the system quickly, or it will mean watching rather than playing.

“It’s all good now. There’s no more, OK, you’re a rookie. You got to step up. You’re either going to make a play or you’re not going to make a play. There’s no time to think you’re here still learning. It’s going to move on without you if you don’t learn it. You got to pick it up fast.”

Edmunds, and the Steelers’ defense, is prepared to prove the doubters wrong this year as they press forward to show the loss to the Jaguars in the Divisional Round of the AFC Playoffs was nothing more than an aberration, not the new norm.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2018/6/10/17446168/steelers-top-rookie-terrell-edmunds-learning-from-his-mistakes-at-otas-mike-tomlin-2018-nfl-draft

[Buzz]

Has Edmunds signed his contract yet?

[hawaiiansteel]

Has Edmunds signed his contract yet?

since Edmunds will be asked to play both S and LB he now wants to be paid for both positions

[Buzz]

since Edmunds will be asked to play both S and LB he now wants to be paid for both positions

[Steel Maniac]

since Edmunds will be asked to play both S and LB he now wants to be paid for both positions

great post!

[RuthlessBurgher]

Has Edmunds signed his contract yet?

The Jags signed the player drafted immediately after Edmunds this morning. Defensive tackle Taven Bryan (29th overall pick) agreed to a four-year deal worth a reported $10.2 million with a $5.5 million signing bonus.

Two months ago, the player drafted immediately before Edmunds signed with Seattle. Runnng back Rashaad Penny (27th overall pick) agreed to a four-year deal worth $10,765,436 with a $5,909,408 signing bonus.

Now the parameters for Edmunds are set. More than Bryan, but less than Penny. Probably will be a 4 year deal worth $10.4-something with about a $5.7M signing bonus.

[Buzz]

The Jags signed the player drafted immediately after Edmunds this morning. Defensive tackle Taven Bryan (29th overall pick) agreed to a four-year deal worth a reported $10.2 million with a $5.5 million signing bonus.

Two months ago, the player drafted immediately before Edmunds signed with Seattle. Runnng back Rashaad Penny (27th overall pick) agreed to a four-year deal worth $10,765,436 with a $5,909,408 signing bonus.

Now the parameters for Edmunds are set. More than Bryan, but less than Penny. Probably will be a 4 year deal worth $10.4-something with about a $5.7M signing bonus.

As of today, Edmunds still hasn't signed his contract. What is the holdup?

Not real worried yet, but it's getting late for a #28 pick to still be unsigned.

[Oviedo]

As of today, Edmunds still hasn't signed his contract. What is the holdup?

Not real worried yet, but it's getting late for a #28 pick to still be unsigned.

Until he misses a practice at camp there is no reason to worry. And if he did still no reason. Wasn't too long ago that a 1st round showing up a day or two late wasn't uncommon. I'm more worried about what Edmunds does for the next 6-8 years not the next few days.

[RuthlessBurgher]

As of today, Edmunds still hasn't signed his contract. What is the holdup?

Not real worried yet, but it's getting late for a #28 pick to still be unsigned.

Understanding the issues that could be holding up Terrell Edmunds’ rookie contract

By Simon Chester
Jul 23, 2018, 12:05pm EDT

With the start of training camp for the Pittsburgh Steelers just a few day away, many fans are becoming increasingly concerned that Terrell Edmunds remains unsigned. Taken with the 28th overall selection, Edmunds is one of only six first-round picks who have yet to sign their contract and the only one in the group not selected in the top 10 overall.

While the situation for the players at the top end of the draft is somewhat complicated by the lack of deals signed by those around them, this is not the case for Edmunds. Before the 29th overall pick in the draft agreed to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, it had be theorized that Edmunds was waiting for Taven Bryan to sign his deal to set the base line for negotiations. However, Bryan put pen to paper last Wednesday and there has still been no news about Edmunds.

Thanks to the structure of the CBA when it comes to rookie contracts, there can be no real disputes about the overall value of the deal, but there can be a lot of negotiation about some of the language included in these contracts. Although Edmunds is expected to receive an offer worth almost $10.7 million over four-years that includes a signing bonus in the region of $5.68 million, according to OverTheCap.com, there are still plenty of other details about the contract to discuss.

In an article released on Sunday, Joe Rutter of TribLive suggested that offset language was the stumbling block in negotiations based on the national narrative of rookie contract holdups this offseason, but there have been no published reports indicating this was the actually the case for Edmunds, even if it is a likely cause.

Despite the difficulties veteran players have securing guaranteed contracts, the deals offered to first-round draft picks are almost completely guaranteed. For players taken in the first half of the round, the full amount is guaranteed, and for those taken at the back end of Round 1, the guaranteed amount often covers the first three years and a part of the fourth year. Looking at the contract signed by T.J. Watt last season as the 30th overall pick, $7,933,745 of a deal worth $9,258,810 was fully guaranteed.

Offset language comes into play when a player is released before the end of his rookie contract. With potentially all, or a least a large portion of his contract guaranteed depending how far into his rookie contact he was released, the team cutting the player does not want to be on the hook for guaranteed money if the player they release goes on to sign with another franchise that year. So if the Steelers were to cut Edmunds at the end of his third season, they do not want to be playing him $500,000 in year four when he is playing for another club paying him that amount and more.

For the player signing his rookie deal, eliminating or reducing any offset language as much as possible provides them the ability to effectively get paid twice should they get cut before their rookie contract is up. There can be no doubt that this is a contentious issue for negotiations, but it is not the only hurdle that both side must overcome when trying to reach an agreement.

Some might assume that the signing bonus portion of a contract is paid to a player in a lump sum when they finally put pen to paper, but that is rarely the case. Most teams like to defer a portion of the signing bonus payment, often wanting to pay it out over the course of the regular season and in many rookie contracts, waiting until the start of following year to pay a significant percentage of the bonus.

This was the issue that held up the signing of Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa last year, and one that was only resolved when the Chargers agreed to defer less of his money into 2018 and pay him a larger percentage upfront. It is also worth noting that Bosa was represented by CAA in his negotiations in 2017, the same company that Edmunds signed with coming out of college. Of the seven rookies still unsigned, six first-round picks and second-round selection Dante Pettis, all but one are represented by CAA. A fact that is perhaps more than just a coincidence.

Once these details are agreed, perhaps the only sticking point that could remain would be the issue of voids. Having had their fair share of troubled rookies in the past, it would not be a surprise if the Steelers were more interested in clauses that would void guarantees than other teams. While language that voids the guaranteed portion of the contract due to suspension or obvious criminal acts is fairly standard, some teams have tried to extend this language to cover things less significant like basic team rules.

Although it is hard to believe that Pittsburgh would try and push this too far, it is likely to extend to issues like riding a motorcycle without a helmet (blame Big Ben) or limiting any behavioural issues the Steelers have a problem with. However, given Edmunds’ clean history, it is hard to imagine there any significant problems to overcome in negotiations there.

For those wondering, splits are not normally included in rookie contracts for first-round draft picks like they are for player taken in later rounds, so they will not be an issue for Edmunds. A split is a clause in the contract that allows the team to pay the player a reduced salary if they are placed on injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list (PUP). More of an issue for Day 3 draft selections and undrafted free agents.

All this being said, Edmunds will probably have signed his rookie deal by the time he arrives at training camp on Wednesday, but if not, it will because one or more of the issues listed above has yet to be resolved.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2018/7/23/17602218/understanding-the-issues-that-could-be-holding-up-terrell-edmunds-rookie-contract-with-steelers

[RuthlessBurgher]

Terrell Edmunds is making plays and saving money for Steelers

8:00 AM ET

Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

PITTSBURGH -- The money pot keeps filling up in the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive back room, which tracks each miscue during training camp.

Drop an interception? Put money in the pot. Blow a coverage? There's the pot. Corner Joe Haden was overheard telling teammates he had a "high 20" after a near-interception. At the end of the camp, the position uses the money for a group dinner.

First-round safety Terrell Edmunds is glad to report he's keeping most of his change. Catching two interceptions in recent practices kept him off the high 20 list.

"Everyone's had their share, but he's holding up pretty well," cornerback Mike Hilton said.

It's hard to watch Steelers training camp without noticing the presence of Edmunds, whose size, speed and playmaking have been on display at Saint Vincent College.

No need to overhype rookies, and veteran Morgan Burnett is still the favorite to start at strong safety. But Burnett's week-long absence with a hamstring injury has allowed Edmunds -- who's every bit of 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds with a 4.47-second 40 -- to show promise for the future.

Edmunds has twice intercepted Ben Roethlisberger in 11-man work, and on Thursday he broke up multiple passes in drills.

"Everything's coming together," Edmunds said. "Just learning the playbook, learning the plays, going out there really fast."

Several NFL draft analysts considered Edmunds a reach with the 28th overall pick, but coach Mike Tomlin expects first-round pedigree in camp, and he's getting it.

"Yes, and it should, you know,” Tomlin said "He’s a one. Those one characteristics should show up routinely."

The Steelers want big and athletic safeties who can cover like corners and even play some hybrid linebacker if the package manifests during the season. Fifth-round pick Marcus Allen is just as large as Edmunds at 6-2 and 215 pounds.

Edmunds has played strong safety almost exclusively during camp, and he's earning trust from teammates at that spot.

"He's a physical guy, he can run, he can cover," Hilton said. "He's learned the scheme really well so he's a guy you can plug in and everyone feels comfortable with."

Starting with the first team during last week's "seven shots" goal-line work, Edmunds covered tight end Vance McDonald tightly toward the sideline but still gave up the touchdown thanks to a perfectly placed ball by Roethlisberger and nifty footwork from McDonald. He also showed a tendency to grab the receiver's jersey in those first few practices.

He hasn't given up much since. He used Thursday's "seven shots" session to bat down a pass over the middle.

"Hopefully I block more than they catch," Edmunds said.

Haden, the only Pro Bowler on a young secondary, is constantly coaching Edmunds after plays. Haden has lauded Edmunds' willingness to listen, and to tackle.

Now all he has to do is beat Haden in the money pot.

"Don't nobody want to know [who paid the least] because we went to see the totals at the end," Hilton said.

http://www.espn.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/28306/terrell-edmunds-is-making-plays-and-saving-money-for-steelers

[Steelhere10]

Alex from the Depot, said Edmunds is having a fantastic camp. Saying that he covers like a corner.