The Buccaneers selected safety Mike Edwards out of the University of Kentucky with the 99th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. A 5-10, 205-pound corner, he was a four-year starter for the Wildcats and had a breakout season in 2016 that saw him lead all SEC defensive backs with 100 tackles on the year. He totaled 318 career tackles while in school, finishing second all-time in Kentucky's record books among defensive backs.
His 2018 senior campaign, he finished the year with 82 total tackles, nine for loss, two interceptions and six pass breakups. In total, he never missed a game for the Wildcats, playing in 51 with 44 consecutive starts. During that time, he proved himself a ball hawk by nabbing 10 career interceptions and becoming just the sixth player in school history to record two interception returns for touchdowns.