Can Braylon Edwards Become A Gem In The Emerald City?

In a deal that not many, including myself, saw coming, Braylon Edwards has joined the Seattle Seahawks on a one-year deal. The deal comes after Edwards worked out for Miami last week, and was highly expected to sign with the Dolphins. Edwards, 29, struggled in San Francisco last season, catching just 15 passes in nine games and zero touchdowns, and the team opted not to bring back the former 3rd overall draft pick of the Cleveland Browns.

I wouldn’t put his struggles last season all on his playing ability though. He dealt with knee and shoulder injuries, and was trying to learn a brand new offense as a very late signing — he signed with San Francisco on August 4, 2011.

Completely out of the limelight in Seattle, Edwards has the opportunity to revive a stagnant career that has seen him play for three teams in three seasons. The question is can he do it?

Edwards in all honesty couldn’t be in a better situation when push comes to shove. If he were to have signed in Miami, he would’ve still been under the microscope due to Miami looking to replace Brandon Marshall who they traded to Chicago in the offseason. Also, he would’ve had to deal with the HBO camera’s because of Miami being on “Hard Knocks” this year.

In Seattle, Edwards is in a place where the national media won’t look to scrutinize every minute of every day during the season. Likewise, he doesn’t have the pressure of being the team’s number one receiver. That job belongs to Sidney Rice.

Edwards will, in all likelihood, compete with Golden Tate for the team’s number two receiver with second-year man Doug Baldwin, Seattle’s leading receiver a year ago, having the slot receiver spot locked down.

It will be tough however for Edwards to up-end Tate, who has looked like a receiver to make that leap into the starting role for the Seahawks. But that doesn’t mean that Edwards can’t once again become the receiver that saw him garner All-Pro honors in 2007.

Assuming he’s healthy and in shape, Edwards should provide the Seahawks, a team that has wide receiver depth issues, with an immediate resolution to the outside spot. Edwards won’t have to go up against the opponent’s best corners that a number one receiver constantly has to deal with. He’ll be able to use his 6’3″ frame to go up and get the football over smaller corners.

One of the biggest questions surrounding Edwards isn’t even about his play, it’s about who’s throwing him the ball.

Seattle has an open, three-way battle for the starting quarterback spot between Tavaris Jackson, 2012 3rd round pick Russell Wilson, and free agent signee Matt Flynn.

Will Edwards mesh well with his new team? Will he be able to form a chemistry with whoever becomes is starting quarterback? It’s obviously tough to say right now, but what is certain is that Seattle could have just picked up a diamond in the rough for 2012.

Do you think Braylon Edwards will be successful in Seattle? Leave a comment with your thoughts or contact me on twitter @MikeStrawQCS