Edwards was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round (25th overall) of the 1999 NFL draft out of Clemson University.
He attended Starkville High School in Mississippi, where he played quarterback, safety, and running back.
During his senior year, he was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
During the course of the year, he made a total of thirty tackles (twenty-six solo), had four interceptions including one returned for a touchdown, and was named to the College & Pro Football Weekly All-Rookie team.
The following season, he started three games but saw his tackle total go down to twenty-five, while defending nine passes and two interceptions.