The Dragons have signed Llanelli openside Nic Cudd and Llandovery loosehead Owen Evans after both impressed in the Principality Premiership but Edwards wants to add more recruits, particularly in the back row.
Cudd arrives at Rodney Parade on a one-year deal having made seven appearances for the Scarlets and 70 for Llanelli.
The 23-year-old represented Wales at every age-grade level and will provide extra depth in a key area, especially when Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau are on international duty this autumn.
Evans, who joins the Dragons on a two-year contract, wore Welsh colours in the 2009 Junior World Cup and was part of the Scarlets’ Heineken Cup squad two seasons ago.
“I am delighted that Nic and Owen are joining the Dragons and would like to thank Anthony Buchanan of Llanelli RFC and Lyndon Lewis of Llandovery RFC for their assistance in these signings,” said Dragons director of rugby Robert Beale.
“Nic has recently been training with the Dragons and has fitted in well with the squad and I look forward to watching him playing in a Dragons shirt.”
Evans will train with the squad on Monday for the first time and joins Aarron Coudley, Phil Price and Nathan Williams as part of the Dragons’ Amlin Challenge Cup squad.
Edwards is hoping the recruitment drive doesn’t finish there, though, as he has his sights on adding to his squad as soon as possible.
With Darren Waters having ruptured knee ligaments last month and Andrew Coombs also out injured, Edwards is after more options at the back of the pack despite the arrival of Cudd.
“I am looking everywhere, wherever we can find a player, but it’s important we add some quality players,” said Edwards, who has a total of 10 players currently sidelined less than three weeks into the new campaign.
“Our squad was stronger than last year, particularly in the back-row, but we have already lost two players with long-term injuries.
“Then we you lose Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau (to Wales duty), that is four players missing in just one area of the team and that hurts us and is why we need to strengthen.”
Under European Rugby Cup Limited tournament rules, every side has to nominate a squad of 38 players, including at least 10 front rowers before this Sunday – a situation that has left the Dragons particularly stretched.
“I think we have to recruit at the moment. We are going into Europe soon and our squad was 38 players before the start of the season,” added Edwards.
“With the injuries we have had, we need to make sure we fulfil our fixtures list – we need to make sure we have a 38-man squad.”
