Edelman, Pats finalize two-year extension
Julian Edelman and the Patriots reached an agreement on a contract extension that could keep the star receiver in Foxboro for the remainder of his career, according to a source.
Edelman, who entered the league as a longshot seventh-round pick in 2009, tacked two years onto his current deal to stay tied to New England through the 2021 season.
He’ll be be 35 when the contract expires.
The deal comes with an $8 million signing bonus and $12 million in overall guarantees, a source confirmed.
Edelman has exhibited few signs of slowing down as he approaches his mid30s. He delivered arguably the best season of his career in 2018 while coming off a torn ACL. After serving a four-game suspension for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, Edelman returned to the field and re-energized what had been a sluggish Patriots offense. Edelman averaged 90.9 receiving yards over the final 12 games, including playoffs.
He terrorized the Rams in Super Bowl LIII, racking up 141 yards on 10 receptions en route to MVP honors. For most of the night, Edelman was the only consistent source of offense on either side.
It was the pinnacle of an improbable career that began with Edelman attempting to successfully transition from college quarterback to NFL receiver.
“No one has worked harder, in my career, to develop his skills and his craft at a position he’d never played,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said during the Super Bowl MVP press conference.
“It’s an incredible story,” Belichick added.
Edelman also dominated the Chargers in the divisional round, tying a career-high with 151 yards.
“Nothing surprises me with Jules,” New England quarterback Tom Brady said on WEEI after the win. “He’s as mentally and physically tough as anyone who has played for the Patriots.”
Edelman currently ranks second behind Jerry Rice in career postseason receptions (115) and receiving yards (1,412).
For the majority of his career, Edelman has vastly outperformed his contract. Following a breakthrough 2013 season, Edelman returned to New England on a four-year deal worth $17 million. The signing proved to be a bargain for the Patriots. Edelman rapidly ascended into one of the league’s most productive wideouts, averaging 71 yards per game from 2014-16. As he entered the final year of that contract, Edelman accepted a modest two-year extension worth $11 million.
Edelman’s 2018 cap hit of $3.81 million ranked 53rd among NFL receivers, according to OverTheCap.com, trailing middling veterans such as Terrance Williams, Seth Roberts, Paul Richardson, Ryan Grant, and Albert Wilson.
Edelman’s latest contract should put him closer to some of the top-performing receivers in the league.
With Rob Gronkowski retired, Edelman is the only surefire option in the New England passing game. Fellow receivers Josh Gordon and Demaryius Thomas have excelled in the NFL, but both face uncertain futures. Gordon remains indefinitely suspended by the league, while Thomas will be seven months removed from a torn Achilles when training camp opens.
The Patriots are counting on first-round pick N’Keal Harry, a physical target on the perimeter, to produce alongside Edelman.
Phillip Dorsett and Dontrelle Inman could factor into the team’s plans, as well.