The remarkable story of the NFL's youngest first-round sensation
In short: In 2018, a teenage linebacker entered the NFL draft with unprecedented hype. Not only was he one of the youngest players ever selected in the first round, but he also shared the spotlight with his brother in a historic draft class.
When the Buffalo Bills selected Tremaine Edmunds with the 16th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, they were drafting a player of historic youth. At just 19 years, 11 months, and 24 days old, Edmunds became the second-youngest player ever taken in the first round, trailing only Amobi Okoye, who was drafted in 2007 at 19 years and 10 months.
His arrival in the league was also a family milestone. Alongside Tremaine, his brother Terrell was selected in the same draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. This achievement made them the first pair of siblings to both be chosen in the first round of a single NFL draft. The family's footballing pedigree extends even further, as their father, Ferrell Edmunds, was a two-time Pro Bowler.
Edmunds' path to the pros was paved by a dominant collegiate career at Virginia Tech. After playing under coaches Frank Beamer and Justin Fuente, he entered the draft following a 2017 season where he was a Butkus Award finalist. His professional trajectory saw him evolve from a highly-touted rookie into a multi-time Pro Bowler, earning selections in both 2020 and 2021.
After several impactful seasons in Buffalo, Edmunds moved to the Chicago Bears in 2023 on a $72 million contract. Following his release by Chicago in March 2026, he returned to the spotlight by signing a three-year, $36 million deal with the New York Giants.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Tremaine Edmunds
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