Meet the newest member of the New Orleans Saints, defensive end Mario Edwards Jr.
New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) runs against Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2015. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) lines up in a three-point stance during an NFL game against the Denver Broncos at O.co Coliseum on October 11, 2015. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 16-10. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Denver Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch (12) passes in front of Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) is tackled by by New York Giants defensive end Mario Edwards (99) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) is seen in action during an NFL game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015 in Denver. The Raiders won the game 15-12. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
New York Giants defensive lineman Mario Edwards, Jr. (99) rushes during an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, Philadelphia. The Eagles defeated the Giants 25-22. (Al Tielemans via AP)
New York Giants defensive end Mario Edwards (99) ties up Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) runs with the ball in front of Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) and defensive end Mario Edwards (97) during an NFL football game on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016 in Oakland, Calif. Oakland won 33-25. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
New York Giants defensive lineman Mario Edwards, Jr. (99) prepares for the snap during an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2018, Philadelphia. The Eagles defeated the Giants 25-22. (Al Tielemans via AP)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) looks to pass as he is pressured by New York Giants defensive end Mario Edwards (99) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New York Giants' Mario Edwards, right, forces Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston to fumble near the goal line during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Seattle Seahawks running back Mike Davis (27) is tackled by Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards (97) as he rushes during the first half of an NFL football preseason game Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Oakland Raiders rookie defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) applies pressure on Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (18) during an NFL game at O.co Coliseum on October 11, 2015. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 16-10. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New York Giants defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. (99) rests during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, Nov. 12, 2018 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Greg Trott via AP)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow, right, blocks Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game in Oakland, Calif., Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Carolina Panthers' Cam Newton (1) scrambles as New York Giants' Mario Edwards (99) and Landon Collins (21) defend in the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Jason E. Miczek)
Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) celebrates a play during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017 in Oakland, Calif. (NFL Photos via AP)
Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards Jr., is seen in the bench area during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Buffalo Bills guard Richie Incognito (64) blocks Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) during a week 8 NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Orchard Park, N.Y. Buffalo won 34-14. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (97) sacks Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) for a 10-yard loss during first quarter action in the NFL game at Sports Authority Field in Denver, Colo. October 1, 2017. (AP Photo via Eric Bakke)
The New Orleans Saints have agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent DE Mario Edwards Jr. on a two-year contract, it was announced by Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.
Edwards, 6-3, 280, comes to New Orleans after spending the 2018 season with the New York Giants. Originally selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round (35th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Florida State, Edwards has posted career totals of 72 tackles (60 solo), 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and three passes defensed in 45 regular season games played with 24 starts. In one postseason contest which he started for Oakland in 2016, Edwards added five tackles (four solo).
In 2018, the Gautier, Miss. native appeared in 15 games for the Giants, posting 14 tackles, two sacks, three stops for loss, five quarterback hits and one forced fumble. In his final season in Oakland in 2017, he opened all 14 games he played in and made 23 stops (15 solo) and a career-high 3.5 quarterback takedowns.
A three-year letterman at Florida State from 2012-14, Edwards started 26-of-36 games over his three-year career, primarily at defensive end, and finished with 89 tackles (52 solo), eight sacks, 23 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and seven passes defensed. In 2014, he started all 13 games and was named All-Ac First Team by the coaches and media and Sports Illustrated second-team All-American honors, as he established career-high marks in tackles (44), passes defensed (five) and forced fumbles (two), adding 11 tackles for loss. As a sophomore in 2013 for the BCS National Champions, he played in 12 games with 11 starts for the nation's third-ranked defense and number one scoring defense, totaling 28 stops, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, one returned for a touchdown. In the BCS National Championship game vs. Auburn, he posted three tackles, including one stop for loss. Edwards's father, Mario Edwards, also played at FSU and played four seasons in the NFL.
