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After going undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft, former Houston WR Patrick Edwards was now a free agent. He wasn't a free agent for long. Edwards was inked by the upstart Detroit Lions and has a good chance to make the final roster with his well rounded ability as a wide receiver, kick and punt returner.
A sensational college career was put together by Edwards at Houston and it may have been in jeopardy back in 2008 after his horrific leg injury in a game at Marshall. He ran into a cart in the endzone when a pass was overthrown in his direction. Edwards slammed into the cart full speed injuring his leg severely.
The speedy WR bounced back nicely to put together some crazy stats from 2009-2011. Edwards is a bit undersized at the WR position is 5'9" and a mere 175 pounds. A touchdown machine, Edwards racked up 33 touchdowns in his final two seasons and was over 1,000 yards receiving from 2009-2011.
Edwards was the 2011 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year with 89 receptions, 1,752 yards, 20 touchdowns and a 19.7 average per catch. He also had five touchdown catches in a 2011 rivalry game against the Rice Owls.
Edwards was one of the favorite targets of former Houston QB Case Keenum who was scooped up by the Texans. Keenum will stay in Houston, much to the applause of Cougar fans across the city.
Edwards will be a nice NFL player in Detroit. He will get better with veteran wide receivers Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson teaching him the ways of what it takes to perform at the NFL level. The Lions also have 2nd year WR Titus Young from Boise State who can help Edwards get through his rookie season as Young just finished up his rookie campaign.
Matthew Stafford is the QB in Detroit and the Lions love to air it out as did the Houston Cougars and Keenum. Stafford will look for Edwards in the slot and on the outside with the double teams and safeties shading to superstar Johnson. Also not to jump the gun, but with the Madden curse seemingly a real thing and with Johnson on the cover, Edwards may get more playing time then he expects as a rookie. Johnson is a great player, but after the season Peyton Hillis had last year after his Madden cover makes Lions fans nervous. It is something to keep in mind for Megatron in 2012.
All in all, Edwards to the pass heavy Lions is like peanut butter and jelly, it just works.