Packers Will Host Big, Fast Safety on Predraft Visit

Chris Edmonds was a two-year starter at Arizona State who had 10 career interceptions.

Arizona State defensive back Chris Edmonds / Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

 

GREEN BAY, Wis. – After signing Xavier McKinney in free agency, the Green Bay Packers will continue rebuilding their safety room through the NFL Draft. One prospect on their radar is Arizona State’s Chris Edmonds, who is set to have a predraft visit with the team.

His visit was first reported by The Draft Network’s Justin Melo. It will happen next week, a source confirmed.

Who Is Chris Edmonds?

Edmonds started his career at Samford. During the Spring 2021 season, he won All-American honors with four interceptions and two forced fumbles. He picked off three more passes during the Fall 2021 season.

From there, it was off to Arizona State, where he started in 2022 and 2023. He picked off three passes in 2022 and set a career high with 71 tackles in 2023.

“I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder ever since coming out of high school,” Edmonds told Rivals after transferring. “I was lowly recruited, ended up walking on Samford, and earned a scholarship with my play on the field. So, I always had a chip on my shoulder, being under-recruited and undervalued at times. And it’s not only doing well at Samford and not getting any love from the (nearby) SEC schools. Everything that has happened to me motivates me, all the schools that didn’t offer or that have pulled offers.”

For another chip on the shoulder, Edmonds was not invited to the Scouting Combine. That put all the eggs into ASU’s pro-day basket. He measured 6-foot-2 3/8 and 210 pounds and ran his 40 in 4.46 seconds. The other workout numbers, however, weren’t as good, leading to a Relative Athletic Score of 5.61.

“That’s what I’ve been training for. That was my goal to hit,” he said of his fast 40 after his workout. “You train your whole life for a moment like this.”

How Would Chris Edmonds Fit With Packers?

Not unlike Oregon State safety Kitan Oladapo, who also visited the Packers, Edmonds’ size and play style would make him an interesting prospect alongside McKinney, the ballhawking safety who joined the Packers on Day 1 of free agency.

In 2023, according to PFF, Edmonds played 373 snaps in the box, 172 snaps of free safety and 108 in the slot. That’s a lot of work near the line of scrimmage, which makes sense considering his size. In coverage, PFF charged him with a 130.4 rating in 2023 (three touchdowns, zero interceptions) and an 80.5 rating in 2022 (three touchdowns, three interceptions).

Edmonds was attracted to Arizona State by the NFL-laden staff of then-coach Herm Edwards. Before landing at ASU, he committed to Boston College – then coached by new Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, it’s worth noting – but some of his credits wouldn’t transfer.

Round Projection for Chris Edmonds

Back when Ted Thompson was Green Bay’s general manager, the 30 allotted predraft visits mostly were used as undrafted free agent recruiting missions. That might be the case with Edmonds, who is worthy of a late-round pick or signing after the draft.

The need at safety is real for the Packers. Of the eight safeties who spent time on Green Bay’s roster last season, five are no longer with the team (Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, Rudy Ford, Innis Gaines and Dallin Leavitt). Of the five safeties on the current roster, only McKinney and 2023 rookie Anthony Johnson played a considerable number of snaps last year.

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Kitan Oladapo / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Add Oregon State safety Kitan Oladapo to the list of visits.