2023 will be Season No. 9 for recently-acquired Seahawks defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. Following Wednesday's practice, the Florida State alum reflected on how familiar faces are helping to get him settled in with Seattle and why the Seahawks are a perfect fit for him.
In the second round of the 2015 draft, Raiders selected Edwards No. 35-overall. The Florida State alum started 24 games over three seasons, before being waived in 2018. After brief stints with the New York Giants and New Orleans Saints, Edwards notched a career-high 4.0 sacks with the Chicago Bears in 2020. After two seasons in the Windy City, Edwards spent 2022 with the Tennessee Titans, posting 17 combined tackles and 3.0 sacks.
Seattle's bi-weekly series The Sound gives an in-depth look at the team from behind-the-scenes. Edwards Jr. shared his sentiments for joining the team in episode 7, which he elaborated upon for the media on Wednesday.
"Kind of like what's going on here," said Edwards. "Just an opportunity. An opportunity to get out here and earn a spot. An opportunity to get out here and play. I had a lot of familiar faces. Tracy (Smith) was my special teams coach in Oakland. Lamar Campbell was my player development coach in Chicago. I played with Neiko Thorpe, and I played with Daren Bates. When I got here, there were a lot of familiar faces. It was like home to me."
In 2022, Seattle ranked No. 30 in run defense, allowing over 150 yards per game on the ground. Last season with Tennessee, Edwards shined in run support, earning a 72 run grade from Pro Football Focus (20th out of 82 edge defenders). With a 9.6 run stop percentage out of 122 snaps as a run defender, Edwards ranked No. 8 of all edge defenders. The veteran discussed why Seattle's 3-4 scheme under defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt fits his skill set.
"It allows me to play fast, physical and aggressive," said Edwards. "It allows me to get off, penetrate, and be disruptive. A lot of things, get reach, stay reached, just be back there and cause havoc."
In eight seasons, Edwards has suited up for five franchises, with Seattle being the sixth. After playing for more than a handful of coaches over the last decade, Edwards discussed what it's like to play for Pete Carroll and experiencing an environment focused on the players' needs.
"It's player based," said Edwards. "He listens to the players, he works well with the players, and takes care of us as well. I just like the whole scheme. We have athletes on every level of the ball: D-line, linebacker, secondary, and it's good to be able to contribute to it. A majority of the coaches have played in the league, so they know what it's like. They know how our bodies feel and know what we go through. A lot of the time they understand how to work us, and still get the most out of us even with us being out here for three or four hours."
Mario Edwards Sr. paved the way for his son's league dreams, starring at corner for Florida State University before being selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2000 draft. Edwards Sr. would play five seasons with Dallas and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Junior reflected on the impact of having a pro dad and following his footsteps.
"It was great man," said Edwards. "It was good to have a coach that I could go talk to and also talk to as a dad as well. Kind of have the blueprint on the coach's side and the player's side. At a young age, I kind of knew what I was going, who I was going to be when I grew up."
Surviving in the league for nearly a decade is not a given, but learning how to be a pro from his dad has helped Edwards along the way. When asked what he would tell younger players heading in the final game of the preseason, Edwards gave some sound advice.
"You're not just playing for this organization," he said. "You're playing for 31 other organizations. What you put on tape is what they're going to have. You can either continue your career and be three, four, five, or nine years like me, or it can go a different way. Make sure you put what you want to see on film."
Seattle's defensive front-seven has seen many changes this offseason, signing Edwards and defensive end Dre'Mont Jones, while bringing back nose tackle Jarran Reed and linebacker Bobby Wagner after time away from the franchise. Edwards dived into high hopes for what the group upfront can bring to the table in 2023.
"We are going to bring a lot to the table," said Edwards "From (Boye) Mafe, to (Derick) D-Hall, to DT (Darrell Taylor). Those guys are athletic and strong and can bend on the edge. On the inside you have Dre (Jones), me, and (Jarran) J-Reed. I just look at it like a three-headed monster. You get a little bit of everything with us three. I think we are going to play some hard-mouthed football this year."
Edwards cites great communication as a potential factor in the defense improving in 2023.
"Recently, even yesterday in practice," said Edwards. "Communicating with our guys, we were able to look at each other and give a little head nod or a little communication, and we understood that we wanted the game to be ran. Kind of understanding how to communicate, what certain guys like, how they like to run certain games, how they like to rush, and kind of assess them."
Last season, Seattle acquired linebacker Uchenna Nwosu via free agency. By season's end, Nwosu reached a new career-high in sacks with 9.5. A fresh start can often be a good thing, and the 2023 season provides Edwards another opportunity to restart and make a lasting impact in the Pacific Northwest.
Take a look at the 53-man roster for the 2023 Seahawks.
0 LB Devin Bush is in his fifth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Devin Bush (0)
1 WR Dee Eskridge is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Dee Eskridge (1)
2 QB Drew Lock is in his fifth season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks quarterback Drew Lock (2)
4 P Michael Dickson is in his sixth season in the NFL and his sixth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson (4)
5 K Jason Myers is in his ninth season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks kicker Jason Myers (5)
6 S Quandre Diggs is in his ninth season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs (6)
7 QB Geno Smith is in his 11th season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7)
8 CB Coby Bryant is in his second year in the NFL and his second year with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Coby Bryant (8)
9 RB Kenneth Walker III is in his second year in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9)
11 WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11)
14 WR DK Metcalf is in his fifth season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (14)
16 WR Tyler Lockett is in his ninth season in the NFL and his ninth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett (16)
19 WR Jake Bobo is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19)
20 FS Julian Love is in his fifth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Julian Love (20)
21 CB Devon Witherspoon is in his first season in the NFL and first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon (21)
22 CB Tre Brown is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Tre Brown (22)
23 CB Artie Burns is in his eighth season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Artie Burns (23)
25 RB Kenny McIntosh is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
26 RB Zach Charbonnet is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26)
27 CB Riq Woolen is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27)
30 CB Michael Jackson is in his fifth season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks cornerback Michael Jackson (30)
31 RB DeeJay Dallas is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks running back DeeJay Dallas (31)
32 S Jerrick Reed II is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32)
33 SS Jamal Adams is in his seventh season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks safety Jamal Adams (33)
Seahawks TE Brady Russell is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Brady Russell (38).
41 LS Chris Stoll is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
44 FB/LB Nick Bellore is in his 13th season in the NFL and his fifth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks fullback/linebacker Nick Bellore (44)
51 C Olu Oluwatimi is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks center Olu Oluwatimi (51)
52 LB Darrell Taylor is in his fourth season in the NFL and fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Darrell Taylor (52)
53 LB Boye Mafe is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe (53)
54 LB Bobby Wagner is in his 12th season in the NFL and his 11th season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner (54)
55 DE Dre'Mont Jones is in his fifth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks defensive end Dre'Mont Jones (55)
56 LB Jordyn Brooks is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks (56)
Seahawks outside linebacker Frank Clark (57).
58 LB Derick Hall is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall (58)
59 LB Jon Rhattigan is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks linebacker Jon Rhattigan (59)
63 C Evan Brown is in his sixth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks center Evan Brown (63)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle McClendon Curtis (66)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle McClendon Curtis (66)
67 OT Charles Cross is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67)
68 G Damien Lewis is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks guard Damien Lewis (68)
72 OT Abraham Lucas is in his second season in the NFL and his second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tackle Abraham Lucas (72)
75 G Anthony Bradford is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seattle Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford (75)
78 OT Stone Forsythe is in his third season in the NFL and his third season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tackle Stone Forsythe (78)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Raiqwon O'Neal (79)
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Raiqwon O'Neal (79)
84 TE Colby Parkinson is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson (84)
87 TE Noah Fant is in his fifth season in the NFL and second season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Noah Fant (87)
89 TE Will Dissly is in his sixth season in the NFL and his sixth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks tight end Will Dissly (89)
90 DE Jarran Reed is in his eighth season in the NFL and his sixth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks nose tackle Jarran Reed (90)
93 NT Cameron Young is in his first season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks nose tackle Cameron Young (93)
95 NT Myles Adams is in his fourth season in the NFL and his fourth season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks defensive end Myles Adams (95)
97 Mario Edwards Jr is in his ninth season in the NFL and his first season with the Seahawks.
Seahawks defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97)
