On Thursday night, Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and safety Terrell Edmunds of Virginia Tech were drafted, marking the first time that brothers have been taken in the first round of the very same draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Terrell as the 28th pick. He was taken 12 picks after the Buffalo Bills later chose his younger brother with the 16th pick.
Terell Edmunds said, “It’s a blessing for my family overall. It didn’t matter where [Tremaine] went and I went. I’m thankful to everyone for supporting us all the way.”
Terrell and Tremaine Edmunds’ father, Ferrel made the Pro Bowl twice, during his six-year-long career in the NFL as a tight end for Miami and Seatle. Terrell Edmunds said that he did not expect to hear his name being called out in the first round. He further said that he was surprised to be picked.
The two brothers’ selections have now given the Virginia Tech a set of first-round picks for only the second time in the common draft era. In the year 2004, DeAngelo Hall and Kevin Jones were drafted by the Atlanta and Detroit.
Edmunds has the size for the Steelers as he is 6 feet 1 inch and weighs 217 pounds. He also has the speed to become a valuable contributor in a defensive backfield which includes Sean Davis, Artie Burns, and Joe Haden. After the Steelers used a first-round pick for the first time on safety since taking Troy Polamalu 16th in the year 2003, general manager Kevin Colbert said, “We felt this was the best player.”
The Steelers were drawn towards Edmunds’ ability to move around the field. Colbert pointed out that there were times during Edmunds’ career at Virginia Tech where he would slip from being a strong safety to free safety on the same play.
