NFL roundup: Julian Edelman agrees to extension with the Patriots

Julian Edelman racked up over 1,000 yards for the Patriots during the 2016 NFL season, and he extended his time with the team on Thursday.

The New England Patriots are the favorite to make it back to the Super Bowl during the 2017 NFL season, and they just made sure a previous Super Bowl hero will be with the team for at least the next two seasons. Julian Edelman, who made a spectacular catch during the team’s comeback victory in Super Bowl LI, signed a two-year extension with the Pats on Thursday. Edelman racked up over 1,000 yards for the second time in his career in 2016, and will be a part of a loaded wide receiving corps that includes Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan, and Malcolm Mitchell to name a few.

One wide receiver who is still looking for a home this upcoming season is Jeremy Maclin, who was released by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this month. Maclin met with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday and Wednesday, before flying to Baltimore to meet with the Ravens on Thursday. The speedster left Baltimore without a deal, and there is no word on where else he will be visiting as he tries to latch on with a new team.

Paul Perkins is a guy who the New York Giants expect to play a big role in their offense in 2017, and the organization views him as a three-down back. The Giants did not bring in a veteran running back this offseason, and did not draft a rookie, which means Perkins will have the keys to the car this season. New York needs a solid running game to complement their explosive playmakers at wide receiver, as they were exposed as one-dimensional last season.

The Arizona Cardinals will be looking to take a step in the right direction this season, a year after missing out on the playoffs after making it to the NFC Championship Game the year before. On Thursday, the Cardinals signed first round pick Haason Reddick, an incredibly gifted athlete out of Temple. Reddick was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, and should give the Cardinals an explosive pass rusher on the defensive side of the ball this season.

Next: 5 potential landing spots for Eric Decker

Some sad news out of the NFL, as a former second round pick of the Buffalo Bills was found dead on Thursday. James Hardy, who starred at Indiana University during his collegiate days, was discovered in the Maumee River in Indiana. Hardy, who was reported missing by his mother back on May 30, played two years with the Bills, hauling in ten passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Our prayers go out to his friends and family.