Saints WR Bryan Edwards embraces competition for roster spot

NFL training camps are a proving ground. For example, the New Orleans Saints currently have 11 wide receivers on the roster. With the final cutdown looming August 29, time is running short for a player to make a firm case for his spot.

Veteran wide receiver Bryan Edwards knows this pressure well.

The soft-spoken, four year veteran is trying to land a spot with his third NFL team.

During his collegiate days at South Carolina, Edwards was a four-year starter, making at least one catch in 48 consecutive games and facing top competition in the deep Southeastern Conference.

“All the top guys in the SEC are the same guys that you face on Sundays,” Edwards noted.

The Gamecocks all-time leader in career receptions and yards, Edwards recorded 234 grabs for 3,045 yards and 22 touchdowns. His career body of work in Columbia matches or surpasses fine South Carolina wideouts like Sterling Sharpe, Deebo Samuel, Robert Brooks, Sidney Rice and Alshon Jeffery.

“I just came in and tried to work,” said Edwards about his college years. “I had older guys to push me. I had to rise to the occasion to be like those guys.”

As a 6-foot-3, 215-pound target, Edwards has tried to model his game after notable big receivers.

“I used to watch Alshon Jeffery, DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green, when I was in high school. I wanted to be like those guys.”

Edwards spent his first two seasons NFL season (2020-’21) in a Raiders uniform, catching passes from current Saints starting quarterback Derek Carr. In ’21, Edwards snared 54 passes for 571 yards and three scores.

“I played two seasons with him. I’ve gotten to know him as a person,” Edwards said regarding Carr. “You know what you’ve going to get with Derek. I respect someone who comes to work everyday the way that he does. He has my respect and I trust him as a quarterback. I feel like he trusts me as a receiver to do my job.”

Carr has praised Edwards as a talented, violent route runner. Edwards agrees.

“The top end of my routes are violent, where the breaks are hard, getting in and out of my cuts, getting separation at the top of my breaks. I want to be one of those guys who are twitchy at the top of the route.”

One aspect of his game that the Saints value is the ability to make contested catches. During his early days with the Raiders, no NFL receiver had a better Pro Football Focus grade securing contested catches than Edwards at 93.1. “It’s who I am and what I’ve learned that I need to do. I take pride in it. It’s something built into me. It’s more of a mindset thing. As a bigger receiver, contested catches are part of my job.”

Edwards spent the 2022 campaign with Atlanta. On September 11, New Orleans visited Atlanta to open the season and rallied for a dramatic 27-26 win before eeking out the season sweep at home in December. 21-18. The fans in the stands at both contests made an impression on Edwards.

“That is one of the best fan bases in the league,” Edwards stated. “I remember the game in Atlanta. There were more New Orleans Saints fans in the stands than Falcon fans. (New Orleans) rallies around this team. That was one of the reasons that I wanted to come here because of the fanbase.”

Despite the stress that comes with trying to earn a job this time of year, Edwards also is enjoying the talented teammates around in the wide receiver room led by Michael Thomas and Chris Olave.

“Without a doubt, we have talent across the board. It makes you better. It makes you want to come to work and try to be better surrounded by great guys… there are a few guys that you may not know much about yet. It’s a great group to be with.”

That open-minded attitude helps Bryan Edwards focus on the task at hand, looking to make his mark in Black & Gold.

“Every time you get an opportunity, you’ve got to prove it. It’s a ‘what have you done for me lately’ league. You just gotta come in and do your best everyday.”