2020 NFL Draft: Wide Receiver Earnest Edwards scouting report
By Ian Higgins
The Catch
Even though Edwards is a speedy wideout (who are not generally known for their hands), he caught four passes or more in nine of his 11 games in 2019. Edwards functioned as a focal point for his team and held a similar respective role to Tyreek Hill on the Chiefs. He showed no problems reeling in the ball on downfield throws testing his ability to chase down and continue to create separation from a trailing defender.
Edwards had multiple plays showing off his acrobatics with defenders in the area, holding onto the ball once in his grasp through contact. Easier receptions on receptions setting up a bigger play were business as usual, and when open downfield, Edwards had no issues.
Modern wideouts need to be able to compete in traffic with the increasingly aggressive defensive backs of the NFL (Jalen Ramsey, Jamal Adams, Derwin James, etc). Few small speedy receivers like Hill have been successful, but Edwards has shown the toughness and intangibles to make it onto an NFL roster.
The NFL has become increasingly physical in the secondary. This is an aspect of the next level that Edwards will have had no experience within his college career. Never facing big-name schools with robust football programs, Edwards will experience a drastic change in the speed and physicality of opposing players.