After losing Lonnie Johnson Jr. to a broken fibula, the Las Vegas Raiders signed Terrell Edmunds to add to their young safety room. Edmunds provides veteran leadership due to his seven years of experience. Additionally, he has participated in two playoff games.
This signing to the roster strongly affects players like Trey Taylor and Chris Smith III. These young safeties were hoping for more playing time as the third safety on the roster. However, the latest roster move may suggest that the coaching staff does not have high confidence in the aforementioned duo.
Who is Terrell Edmunds? A Versatile Safety with High Upside
Despite being a first-round pick, the Virginia Tech alum is no longer viewed as a starter. He has not started in a football contest since 2023 for the Tennessee Titans. Last season he finished his campaign with seven tackles and no other statistics.
His genetics immediately stand out. He stems from a family of outstanding football players. To start, he is the son of former Pro Bowl tight end Ferrell Edmunds. Additionally, his brother Tremaine is a star middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears. In essence, he inherited the athletic ability to compete at this level from his father.
However, he has never lived up to his first-round draft selection. According to his 2018 draft profile, Edmunds should not have been drafted this early. Edmunds’ 86 athleticism score prompted the Steelers to consider the former Hokie.
Taking Over as the Third Safety for the Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders fans may have dreamed of a headline grabber like Justin Simmons, but Terrell Edmunds might be precisely what this defense needs. The blueprint calls for Isaiah Pola-Mao and Jeremy Chinn to handle most of the work at safety. But when Chinn slides into a nickel corner or linebacker role, someone has to fill the gap.
Enter Edmunds. Built for the strong safety role, he’s more comfortable playing near the line of scrimmage than patrolling center field—a natural fit for Patrick Graham’s cover-three system.
If Pola-Mao and Chinn deliver, Edmunds transforms the safety group from thin to deep. It’s the type of unnoticed acquisition that can yield significant benefits when injuries strike. Of course, that depth comes at a cost: Trey Taylor and Chris Smith III may suddenly find themselves fighting for their roster lives.
Related: Is QB2 Position Wide Open For The Raiders?
*Top Photo: Getty Images