I’m just getting settled back home in Massachusetts after the cross country drive, but I had to throw up a quick post about the Julian Edelman extension, which is great news. Edelman was entering the final year of his deal and now, with a two-year extension is signed through 2019.
Edelman can earn up to $19.5 million over the course of the deal and falls firmly into the category of being good for the team and good for the player. In many ways, this feels like the kind of deal Wes Welker passed on with the team in 2013 and went on to have one more good season before the concussions caught up with him.
Patriots to Welker in 2013: 2 years for $10mm with extra $6mm incentives
Patriots to Edelman: 2 years for $11mm with extra $4mm incentives
— Rich Hill (@PP_Rich_Hill) June 8, 2017
Edelman is smart enough to know the value that playing with Tom Brady and what staying in the Boston market will do for him after his football career. Rather than squeeze a bigger contract out of another team in free agency, Edelman will now likely end his career as a Patriot. or at least the meaningful part of it.
After that he can parlay his legendary status in Boston into pretty much any post-football career he chooses, likely still something in the spotlight as he’s expanded his media presence with each passing season.
For the Patriots you have to feel great about keeping Edelman around. I don’t need to recount what he means to the offense and the clutch catches he’s made over the last two seasons. In the gotta have it moments nobody comes up with it more than Edelman, often via spectacular, nearly impossible catches.
This was one of the final pieces of the offseason puzzle that I wanted to get done. An extension for Nate Solder is still a question mark, but after drafting and signing a bunch of athletic rookie tackles, they might very well let Solder play out the final year of his deal.
There no argument, the Patriots took care of business this offseason and the Edelman extension is the cherry on top. They attacked the spring like they had fallen well short of a Super Bowl title and that’s why they’re firm favorites to win three-out-of-four for the second time.
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Love the move for both sides. Gronk / Cooks / Edelman will be unstoppable if they can stay on the field.
I hope Jules retires a Patriot, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea for him to hang it up after this contract. He takes a lot of hits. A couple more years like the last few and he’s a folk hero in New England — if he isn’t already. One of my favorite Pats.