Promising former Pittsburgh Steelers undrafted rookie running back Daijun Edwards will ply his trade north of the border in the Canadian Football League. Edwards signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL for the summer 2025 season, the team announced on Monday.
Edwards joined the Steelers just after the 2024 NFL Draft as an undrafted free agent out of Georgia, and many had high hopes for the high-pedigree back back.
But the 5-foot-10, 201-pound Edwards had been competing with Jonathan Ward, La'Mical Perine and Aaron Shampklin to be the team's No. 4 running back, and had consistently been behind the others throughout training camp.
All of Shampklin, Perine and Ward spent time with the Steelers during the 2024 season, while Edwards was released at the end of the preseason and was not brought back.
In three preseason games, Edwards finished with seven carries for 37 yards. His 5.3 yards per carry average was second among the team's running backs. He also caught one pass — his only target — for nine yards. Edwards played in a total of 17 offensive snaps, and also six special teams snaps, rotating into the backup kickoff return and second-team punt return units. He returned one kickoff for 27 yards.
Daijun Edwards, Georgia Athletics
Edwards shared carries with other backs throughout his time at Georgia, earning a career high of 164 carries for 881 yards as a senior in 2023. He scored 13 touchdowns for the Bulldogs last season on their way to an Orange Bowl title.
Edwards was expected to be drafted, and was the No. 242 overall player on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board. The Steelers showed extensive pre-draft interest in Edwards, scouting him in person at the 2024 Senior Bowl and then sending general manager Omar Khan, head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to the Georgia pro day.
Edwards is the second former Steelers running back to sign in the CFL this offseason. Qadree Ollison , who spent time with the Steelers in 2023, has signed with the B.C. Lions for this summer.
The 2025 CFL season will start on June 5, with the 112th edition of the Grey Cup in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Nov. 16.
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