On Monday morning, the Bills picked up Tremaine Edmunds‘ fifth-year option. However, the Steelers won’t do the same for his older bro. Pittsburgh has declined the fifth-year option for safety Terrell Edmunds (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). 
Edmunds’ fifth-year would have cost a fully-guaranteed $6.753MM. Apparently, that was too steep for the Steelers, even though Edmunds has been improving with each year. All in all, he’s suited up in 47 games for the Steelers with 43 starts. Last year, he finished with two interceptions, eight passes defensed, and one sack.
Edmunds is now the third Steeler to have his extra year turned down, following older first-rounders Jarvis Jones and Artie Burns. Meanwhile, they’ve already exercised Minkah Fitzpatrick’s option, locking him in for $10.6MM in 2022.
I thought for sure they’d pick it up, being that $6 mil ain’t much.
Guessing he’s back at a slightly lower cost…but Steelers really nickel and diming
They need too. TJ is up next. Cap is hurting them and the dollars going outward doesn’t help.
Bingo. Every team nickels and dimes with 2nb tier players. Edmunds is the solid safety who pairs with a playmaker at the other safety player. Polamalu had Ryan Clark around that allowed him to do a lot of freelancing. Fitzpatrick can move around the defense because of Edmunds being there.
Did you see Edumunds play at all in his career? Even in parts of what was his best season. He doesn’t allow Fitzpatrick to freelance.
Not enough Big Ben money to go around for TJ, Minkah and all the role players. Gotta keep the stars.
I wouldn’t be shocked if this was turned down in order to sign him longer term at less than 6.75 number
This is not a surprise.