Patriots don’t have room for Amendola and Edelman
By Jeff Adcox
Julian Edelman had a breakout season for the New England Patriots last year. He caught 105 passes for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns. But with Danny Amendola already signed to a five-year $31M contract, Edelman’s play has likely placed his value to high for the Patriots to re-sign him.
Re-signing Edleman would also produce somewhat of a log jam at the slot receiver spot when the Patriots have more pressing wide receiver needs.
Andy Hart of Patriots Football Weekly addressed this point in his weekly mailbag.
"(Edelman) had single-digit receptions in both 2010 and 2011 while playing in Wes Welker’s shadow. So there is a question as to whether he can be a 16-game, 100-catch receiver on an annual basis. Another issue that clouds Edelman’s value in New England is the fact that the team signed similarly-skilled/productive Danny Amendola to a five-year, $31 million deal last offseason. It’s not crazy to think that Edelman’s people want something in that range. But the Patriots probably can’t pay two injury-prone slot receivers all that money. Edelman probably owes it to himself to at least get to the open market and see what kind of money is out there for him."