On the afternoon of May 13, the Las Vegas Raiders agreed to trade wide receiver Bryan Edwards to the Atlanta Falcons. This comes after acquiring one of the best receivers in the league, Davante Adams.
So far, Edwards has only flashed his playmaking potential. He has reeled in 45 receptions for 764 yards and four touchdowns. In addition to averaging 17 yards per carry, Edwards is heading into his third year in the league and is now on a new team with a new offense to learn.
In Las Vegas, he was trying to gain the trust of quarterback Derek Carr, while battling for targets with Pro Bowlers Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller. Not to mention, former first-round selection Henry Ruggs. As a result, Edwards only received 6.3% of the offense’s target share through his first two seasons.
Joining the revamped Falcons offense, Edwards has a clean slate without the proven and productive talent to wade through. He completes the big weapon theme the Falcons prioritized this off-season, and along with Drake London (6’4) and Kyle Pitts (6’6), Bryan Edwards will offer another big-body target this fall.
I believe he fits Head Coach Arthur Smith’s offense well. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, he has the frame to work horizontally as a yard-after-catch possession receiver. He has quite a bit of untapped potential with his strong hands, frame and understanding of coverages, which have allowed him to have bright flashes in Las Vegas.
Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder are quarterbacks that can create with their legs and extend plays. Also, both passers prefer to find the open receiver, instead of forcing it to one specific option. Pitts will demand the majority of the defensive attention this season and as a result, London and Edwards work with favorable matchups and spacing.
Edwards is not a finished product by any means, but the talent to produce is evident. That alone is enough of a reason to be hopeful and optimistic about his fit with his new team.
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