The Pittsburgh Steelers were among a big mix of teams that had an interest in 2009 in tantalizing prospect, Julian Edelman. Before NFL clubs lined up to get him with either a late-round selection or as an undrafted free agent, the B.C. Lions snuck him on their exclusive negotiation list hoping that his desire to continue at quarterback would take him north of the border (like one of his idols, Doug Flutie). The problem for the Lions was that Edelman, who'd excelled as a dual-threat signal-caller with Kent State, had plenty of teams interested in trying him in all three facets of the game.
Kent State Athletics
Former Kent State quarterback Julian Edelman would never be a full-time thrower of the football, but he did get one passing touchdown in his NFL career.
Pittsburgh was one of the teams that had an eye on potentially using the versatile athlete on the defensive side of the ball. He recently detailed his process of getting into the league on the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, and how the New England Patriots had a very keen interest.
"I got worked out by the Steelers as a defensive back," he said. "The Patriots sent over their running back coach first and worked me out there. Then they brought out the special teams coordinator to see if I could catch kicks and punts."
Edelman said despite three different workouts with the Patriots, they never brought him to Foxborough. It made him question whether he'd be in the team's plans on draft day. Entering the draft, he said he thought he was going to be a member of the Miami Dolphins. Partially, due to the team's success the previous year employing the Wildcat formation.
As the draft night rolled on, Edelman's agent Don Yee, who also represents Tom Brady, began getting calls from teams with the intention of bringing him in as an undrafted free agent. The top option they decided on was the Green Bay Packers, should he not get selected. He said without a clear slot receiver or returner, it was a situation he could see playing right away.
Yee told Edelman as the clock started to tick toward the seventh round, he had a sense that the Patriots were going to be in play. The team had a pair of selections and the agent said to his client, "I’m not saying they’re going to, but I wouldn't be surprised if they pick you."
The next thing Edelman remembered from that day was getting a call from a Massachusetts area code as he went off the board to New England at pick 232 overall. Awaiting on the other end of the phone was his first interaction with the legendary Bill Belichick.
"Bill picks up the phone and says, ‘You’re a good football player, I’m not sure what you’re going to play. See you tomorrow,’ or something like that."
As the season approached and he was studying the team's depth at receiver led by Randy Moss and Wes Welker, he wondered how he was going to make the squad. He decided to put his effort into doing everything on special teams and it paid off big time.
Steelers Could've Used Some Safety Depth In 2009
Pittsburgh entered the 2009 season with starting safeties Troy Polamalu in the middle of his prime years, and Ryan Clark aging, but still playing effectively. The team also had experienced depth options in Deshea Townsend and Tyrone Carter, who'd been part of championship teams. Beyond them in the mix of defensive backs were a pair of 2009 selections, Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett.
Beaver County Times
Steelers safeties Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu celebrate as Super Bowl XLIII came to a close against the Arizona Cardinals.
Polamalu suffered an injury to his knee during the season opener against Tennessee Titans, sometime after making one of the greatest plays in his career intercepting quarterback Kerry Collins by reaching up with one hand over receiver Kenny Britt. He played in four more contests that year before aggravating the ailment against the Cincinnati Bengals in a Week 10 loss. Though there was speculation Polamalu had a chance to return before the season's end, he revealed there was absolutely no circumstance he'd risk his career to play down the stretch.
Doug Pensinger / Getty Images
Steelers safety Tyrone Carter runs a pick off Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton for a score during a regular season game in Nov 2009.
The two-time Super Bowl winner Carter filled in as the starter for 12 games and did collect a pick-six, but the defense slipped without one of its biggest stars. Edelman said he always enjoyed hitting people and thought he could've been a safety, and potentially could've helped. Learning the position from Clark and Polamalu certainly wouldn't have hurt. We'll never know what Edelman could have been at safety in Pittsburgh. By the time the team made its second seventh-round selection, the future three-time Super Bowl winner was on the way to New England.
Do you think Edelman could've played safety in the NFL? Comment below!
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