File to Upload for Edelman Is Too Large
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 04: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots warms upwards on the field before playing confronting the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Wild Menu Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photograph by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
By Alex Barth, 985TheSportsHub.com
Tom Brady leaving the Patriots to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will transport ripples throughout the NFL. Outside of Brady himself, Julian Edelman could feel the brunt of that impact possibly more any player in the league.
Edelman made a name for himself as Brady'south correct-hand man for the last decade. He's caught more than passes from Brady (689) than everyone else. His identity both on and off the field has been heavily tied in to being Brady's "little brother" or "Slottie Pippen."
At present, for the kickoff fourth dimension since he transitioned from quarterback to wide receiver afterwards existence drafted in 2009, one of the NFL'due south most consistant players enters the unknown.
A huge role of what makes/fabricated Julian Edelman so effective is/was the chemical science with Tom Brady. Their ability to know what the other was going to do before he did it took on almost a hive-listen kind of look at times. While Edelman volition certainly have time to build a rapport with Jarrett Stidham or whoever the next guy is, they won't come up close in 6 months to what Brady and Edelman put together over ten years.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 04: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots and Julian Edelman #11 together on the sideline during the the AFC Wild Bill of fare Playoff game confronting the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on Jan 04, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
There's also the issue of Edelman'southward office. The Patriots law-breaking will likely look different going forward than information technology did under Brady, and that could mean decreased importance for the slot receiver position. Bill Belichick and the Patriots tend to run counter to the trends and fads of the residue of the league. With the other 31 teams investing more in slot guys now than ever earlier, Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could use Brady's departure every bit an excuse to effort a new angle on the offensive side of the ball.
If given the chance, Edelman can nevertheless play. Despite battling through various injuries for what felt like all of final season, he managed to catch 100 balls for 1,117 yards. Even so, those injuries are starting to linger longer, and he'southward a guy who has to play the game physically to exist effective.
This is where the reality of time becomes a factor. Edelman will be 34 years sometime when the team begins training camp this summertime. Only 3 receivers in NFL history have caught over 100 passes and gone for over 1,000 yards at the age of 34 (Jerry Rice in 1996, Reggie Wayne in 2012, Larry Fitzgerald in 2017). No wide receiver has ever accomplished the feat at the age of 35 or older.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 24: Julian Edelman #xi of the New England Patriots warms upward before the game confronting the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photograph by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
While Edelman's contract technically runs through 2021, at that place is an out after the 2020 flavor that would save the Patriots $4 1000000 in cap infinite (per Spotrac). One of Bill Belichick's famous strategies when it comes to roster building has always been to part with a player a year as well early instead of a year also tardily.
Edelman should stick around for 2020. He's coming off a nigh-career year, and perhaps more importantly can provide a veteran vocalism in the locker room that has lost a number of leaders this offseason. After that though, all bets are off.
Will the Patriots want a 35-twelvemonth-old receiver costing them almost $seven 1000000 against the cap on the roster, especially if he proves to be less effective without Tom Brady? Will Edelman want to spend the cease of his NFL career with a team that could exist going through a rebuild, or capitalize on a rapidly closing window?
He could dash to Tampa to re-join Brady, or peradventure go out on his own. Information technology'southward hard to project what teams will be needing 12 months from at present, but he could go play for his hometown 49ers who should still take a competitive roster, or join a former Patriots staff member in Miami, Detroit, New York, Houston, or mayhap even Mike Vrabel in Tennessee. Afterwards all, he was on the infamous FaceTime call.
FOXBOROUGH, MA – December 21: Julian Edelman #11 and Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots run onto the field before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo past Billie Weiss/Getty Images)
Trading Edelman correct now feels like it would exist a panicked reactionary move for the Patriots. Given the unique way he plays he won't be valued by other teams as much equally he is with the Patriots, and they shouldn't shortchange themselves on the return.
Bill Belichick is the male monarch of "become something earlier they walk for zip," just in this case running Edelman out to the stop feels similar the right play. Given his importance in the locker room and, if the offense doesn't change to drastically, how he should help a immature quarterback get through his first NFL flavor, he'south worth more than the third-round option they'd likely get for him.
Edelman has been a staple of the Patriots Dynasty 2.0 and three Super Bowl championships. Moving on from him is no pocket-size chore. But in the Post-Brady era, equally they did when the core of the early 2000's teams aged out, the best way to get competitive over again quickly is embrace an 'out with the onetime, in with the new mentality.' Every bit good as he'due south been, and as much as he'south meant to the organization, information technology's hard to projection a place for Julian Edelman in that programme.
Source: https://985thesportshub.com/2020/03/20/whats-next-for-julian-edelman-in-the-post-tom-brady-era/
Post a Comment for "File to Upload for Edelman Is Too Large"