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Julian Edelman will almost certainly be remembered as a longtime Patriot, rising from late-round save to Super Bowl MVP and one of the most productive receivers the NFL playoffs have ever seen. All indications, however, are that 2020 could be his final season in New England. He’s older and just had knee surgery for a team that needs to rebuild, and his release this offseason would save the franchise roughly $ 4 million. Coach Bill Belichick, meanwhile, doesn’t seem particularly confident the veteran will return.
As the 2021 offseason approaches, we decided to take an early look at where Edelman might land, assuming he played his last game as the Patriot. Here are five logical contenders:
5. San Francisco 49ers
Edelman grew up in the Bay Area. Heading into his 35-year season, West Coast weather would make for a sunnier alternative to Foxborough. More importantly, the Niners might need more than anyone, except for … the Patriots? Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk are versatile playmakers, but Edelman would give them a more reliable middle target. It wouldn’t cost much either.
4. New York Giants
As a longtime Patriot, Edelman knows how brave the Giants can be. Best of all, he praised the passion of coach Joe Judge, who spent eight years with the team in New England, including one as coach of the Edelman WR. The judge, meanwhile, is required to cut ties with dear Golden Tate in the slot, leaving a veteran void at the post. What better way to help young Daniel Jones in 2021 than by giving him an ultra-hardworking target in Edelman?
3. Tennessee Titans
The Titans have big decisions to make at WR, where Corey Davis is expected to hit free agency and Adam Humphries looks like a potential victim with $ 21 million owed over the next two years. If Humphries left, Edelman would be a natural replacement in the slot machine – a sure-fire favorite for regular Ryan Tannehill. General manager Jon Robinson was the Patriots’ scouting director when New England drafted Edelman in 2009, and coach Mike Vrabel would vouch for his no-frills experience with the Pats.
2. Miami Dolphins
Edelman and Dolphins coach Brian Flores spent 10 years together in New England, so the latter is well aware of WR’s work ethic. More than that, Miami will almost certainly be looking for reinforcements in the post, young and old. Even though he’s filming with someone like Lynn Bowden Jr., Edelman makes a lot of sense as a short-term building block for an efficient and swift attack led by Tua Tagovailoa. He also won’t mind playing the Patriots twice a year.
1. Cleveland Browns
You don’t necessarily fix them as an obvious solution, but the connections are plentiful. Edelman knows the area, with Kent State just down the road from Cleveland. Browns WR coach and passing coordinator Chad O’Shea spent 10 years coaching the WR in Edelman in New England. And Cleveland could use another safe target for the short zone for the first-run attack they want to run with Baker Mayfield. In the event that they actually move Odell Beckham Jr., they will be even more motivated to add WRs to extend their current window of contention.
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