2020 NFL Draft: Wide Receiver Earnest Edwards scouting report
By Ian Higgins
Post Catch
Possibly the most impressive part of Edwards’ game, he is a through-and-through playmaker with the ball in his hands and is a threat to break off a chunk gain or more on any handle. Put out wide, in the slot at running back, the goal of Maine’s offense was to put Edwards into a variety of situations to make plays with his elusiveness.
Even downfield, Edwards is able to put on the brakes and make chasing defenders miss. Not only having the speed to outrun defenders, even when an imperfect pass comes his way he can create yardage by outmaneuvering defenders. This is another skill of Tyreek Hill that can draw comparisons between the two, always looking to make a man miss on any given snap.
Finally, the most obvious weapon of the speedster is the downfield acceleration and top-end he possesses. Edwards is a 4.4 wideout, possibly 4.3, and was used on streaks and posts throughout his time in Maine. With the ball in hand., Edwards worked the angles on defenders to find a seam and burst downfield for major gains even after reeling in a 20-yard pass via air-yardage.
Henry Ruggs III just put up the fastest time of the NFL combine with a 4.27, and even though he was already considered the fastest of the 2020 NFL Draft, his stock continued to rise when his speed was put into perspective. Edwards can do the same to his stock with a good forty at his pro day.