NFL Star Ray Edwards -- Drops $12k Taking Fan to Las Vegas

Atlanta Falcons defensive end Ray Edwards paid up this weekend on one of the coolest fan contests imaginable -- and treated one lucky winner to a baller trip to Las Vegas ... including awesome seats to the Floyd Mayweather fight Saturday night.

It was all part of Edwards' "Dare to Be Different" contest, designed to give away a trip to Edwards' biggest fan ... who really needs a vacation.

A rep for Edwards tells TMZ he shelled out for two first class tickets for winner Chantel Snow and a friend ($1,250). He also paid for hotel accommodations at MGM Grand ($1,100), meals on Friday and Saturday ($3,000), a private limo and driver for their whole stay ($2,000), a private cabana at the Hard Rock pool ($900), tickets to the fight ($1,500/ea), VIP booth at the club Friday ($2,500).

A runner-up drove up to Vegas on his own dime, but all he got to do was meet Ray and watch him train.