Despite flying largely under the radar this season, Michigan RB Donovan Edwards will be one of the most talented and decorated players entering the draft this year. For starters, the Michigan captain is a trophy magnet — he has three consecutive Big Ten Conference Titles and one National championship under his belt. Edwards has the ability to perform under pressure too, as he holds the record for most 40-yard TD runs in a National Championship game.
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However, his stark decline this season due to injuries, coincided with Michigan’s struggles too. That has brought the 21-year-old prospect lower down on the top RB list. That could mean the team which drafts him, might do so while dishing out a lesser amount than his actual worth.
So, here are three NFL teams that could make the most of Edwards in their ranks.
3] Dallas Cowboys
With veteran RB Ezekiel Elliott officially released by the Dallas Cowboys, the RB situation has never been weaker for the Jerry Jones-owned franchise. While undrafted RB Rico Dowddle has sprung a surprise by eclipsing 1000 rushing yards this season, depth is the need of the hour regardless.
If the Cowboys were to retain Rico and sign Donovan Edwards as an alternative/depth option, they would have two promising RBs with very like-for-like skillsets of physicality, ruggedness, and vision.
This would definitely be a bold move for Jerry Jones to pull off, but at this moment, what the octagenarian’s team needs are young passionate players, rather than overpaid stars with commitment issues.
2] New York Giants
Calling the decision by the New York Giants to let Saquon Barkley leave as a ‘mistake’ would be a massive understatement. Such has been the performance of the now-Eagles star as he has single-handedly taken his team to the playoffs while breaking NFL records left and right.
To make matters worse for the Giants, their Saquon Barkley replacement, Devin Singletary, has arguably been one of the worst RBs in the league. While Barkley is on course to break the record for most rushing yards in a season, Singletary hasn’t even crossed 500 yards yet.
Letting Barkley go has been a disaster, and the Giants need a strong RB in their ranks. In Donovan Edwards, they have a natural leader who is experienced in assuming the role of a focal point while leading defenses. Through his pace, Donovan can also make marauding runs forward and has the explosiveness and skills to make some tricky plays.
From Edwards’ perspective, the Giants have a low-pressure environment, giving him ample time to regain his mojo. A win-win for all sides!
1] LA Chargers
Easily the most no-brainer option for Donovan Edwards would be the LA Chargers. In LA, Donovan would get to play under the coach who got the best out of him during his epic National Championship run last year. Similarly, in Donovan Edwards, Coach Jim Harbaugh finds a reliable and trusted asset, possibly at a fraction of the price of a standout free agent.
As far as on-field impact is concerned, Harbaugh has been harping on the poor pass blocking from his RBs. With the explosive pace and sound positioning skills Edwards is blessed with, Harbaugh could get a dynamic player in his ranks who is able to cover multiple responsibilities across the field. In many ways, Edwards to the Chargers makes immense sense.
