Returning to Steelers on 1-year contract was 'best situation' for safety Terrell Edmunds

Four years as the starting free safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t bring an abundance of riches to Terrell Edmunds in his first foray into free agency.

After hitting the open market in mid-March, Edmunds waited for the right offer to surface. Then, he waited some more.

And some more.

It wasn’t until April 22 — more than five weeks after free agency began — that Edmunds signed a contract. It was for just one year, and it was with his former team.

The deal is worth $2,537,500 — a slight increase over the $1.938 million Edmunds earned in the final year of his rookie contract in 2022 and a far cry from the $6.75 million he would have received had the Steelers exercised his option year.

“It was a waiting process,” Edmunds said Tuesday after a voluntary practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “We were in communication with a lot of different teams. I had a few offers out there, but it was trying to figure out the best situation.”

Edmunds’ contract is the maximum allowed under a four-year player qualifying contract that is part of the new collective bargaining agreement. It is structured so Edmunds will count just $1,187,500 million against the salary cap, and the only guarantee is in the form of a $152,500 signing bonus — the max allowed on such deals.

Given that 16 safeties received more lucrative deals in free agency, perhaps Edmunds waited too long to find his market value.

He conceded that “at one point it was going to take a two- or three-year deal, then it was one-year deals, and then it was all about the best situation for me.

“I’m glad to be back, and it’s time to get to work.”

Edmunds said it was his decision to remain patient while the market unfolded.

“It was going up and down at one point, then it crashed, so now I’m just in the best situation,” he said. “I wouldn’t ask for anything different. I’m back with my guys, back in the same system.”

Until Edmunds returned, safety was the lone position on offense or defense that didn’t have a proven starting option for the Steelers. And despite Edmunds starting all 17 games last season and 60 games in four seasons, the Steelers brought in another veteran to provide competition. Damontae Kazee, who is entering his sixth NFL season, was signed to a one-year, $1,187,500 contract shortly after the NFL Draft.

If Kazee is breathing down Edmunds’ neck for playing time, he isn’t feeling it.

“I feel like I’m the starter,” Edmunds said. “It’s going out there competing. He’s going to help us out the best way he can. Definitely there’s no doubt in my mind about the starter’s position, but we’re all out there competing every day.”

Kazee has experience at free safety, but with that position belonging to two-time first-team All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick, he will have to find playing time at strong safety or in subpackages.

“I like the competition here,” Kazee said. “It brings out the best in everybody. It could be defense, special teams, offense, it doesn’t matter. I just want to compete.”

Kazee remained on the market longer than Edmunds and similarly had to take a one-year contract. The reason was related to Kazee’s arrest for driving while under the influence last year when he was with the Dallas Cowboys.

Kazee realizes he faces an uphill climb if he hopes to unseat Edmunds.

“Work your way up,” he said. “Even if I don’t start, you’re going to see me bust my butt every day. That won’t change. If you don’t see me start on defense, you’re going to see me start on special teams, for sure.”

Although Edmunds didn’t get the type of payday that typically is commensurate of a four-year starter, he can increase his bank account with a strong season in 2022.

“It’s keep your head focused for a year,” he said. “A lot of guys signed one-year deals, and everybody is grinding it out for a year to set up a new market for next year.”

Despite the lengthy waiting game Edmunds endured, he believes he is in position to make that happen with the Steelers.

“I’m comfortable here,” he said. “I’m with my teammates. … I already know the defense, and I’m beside Minkah. Being with the same faces, the same group, the same system — that helps out everything.”