The Bucs are reuniting with their former Super Bowl champion with Tampa Bay, as the team announced it has claimed Mike Edwards off waivers. To make room for him on the active roster, the Bucs also waived cornerback Keenan Isaac.
Edwards was selected by the Kentucky Bucs in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. A year later, he played a key role in the Bucs winning Super Bowl LV in Tampa during the 2020 season. He played four seasons in Tampa Bay from 2019 to 2022, signed with the Chiefs in 2023, and won Super Bowl III. He signed with the Bills to start the 2024 season and appeared in three games, but was ultimately released and briefly signed with the Titans before being waived again.
Bucks regain ball-running safety
What Tampa Bay gains with Edwards’ return is a ball-running safety. That’s what former Bucs head coach Bruce Arians called him, and he lived up to the hype. Edwards played in a defensive system with Todd Bowles as coordinator and head coach and was very entertaining with his ability to make splash plays.
Bucks S. Mike Edwards – Photo Credit: USA Today
During his first stint with the Bucks, Edwards recorded seven interceptions and three pick-sixes. His most infamous regular season game with the Bucs came in Week 2 of the 2021 season, when Edwards had back-to-back touchdowns and interceptions in just 3 minutes, 52 seconds of the fourth quarter. Each of those came from Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan as the Bucs defeated Atlanta 48-25 in Tampa.
Edwards’ returns gained 31 and 15 yards at this point. here it is Highlights of the infamous play.
He also had two interceptions in the postseason for the Bucks, including one against Drew Brees in the divisional round offs in the 2020 season. His pass breakup against Patrick Mahomes also led to an interception by Antwon Winfield Jr.
Edwards scored another defensive touchdown for the Chiefs last regular season with a scoop and score, and had an interception in the playoffs. Edwards played just seven defensive snaps and nine special teams snaps for the Bills this year. He recorded one assisted tackle.
Bucks SS Jordan Whitehead – Photo by Cliff Welch/PR
The Bucs hope Edwards’ return will ignite the way they run the ball and force more turnovers against a Tampa Bay defense that has struggled in many areas. The first reunion took place before the season, with Jordan Whitehead returning to Tampa, but this time Edwards once again teamed up with Winfield and Whitehead. All three were defensive backs on the Bucs’ recent Super Bowl championship teams.
Will the Bucks have a new defensive look?
Tampa Bay hasn’t recorded an interception since Week 6, a 51-27 win over the Saints. During his best years with the Bucs, Edwards wasn’t used on every down, but appeared in more passing situations to get the job done. He can play traditional free safety, slot into the slot, or even blitz off the edge. It will be interesting to see how much they use him alongside Nickel and Tykie Smith. winfield and whitehead Securely on the backend.
What that allows Todd Bowles and the Bucs to do is make more money on defense, using six defensive backs, one linebacker, and four defensive linemen to rush after the quarterback. This means that there is a possibility that he will be able to play this package. The Bucs have done a little bit of this this season, but not much based on the personnel Bowles trusts to get it done.
Adding Edwards has this dual effect. First, it took KJ Britt off the field, who had struggled in passing situations, and second, it allowed the defense to use two corners with a group of Winfield, Whitehead, Smith, and Edwards, while also keeping Christian It also makes it possible to have Igian as a possibility. It didn’t do much for the Bucks’ defense, so it doesn’t hurt to give it a try.
