Julian Edelman: NFL’s ‘Short Window’ Will Be Factor In Free Agency

Julian Edelman might not be willing to take a hometown discount to stay with the New England Patriots.

Edelman is a free agent this offseason after signing a one-year deal with the Patriots in 2013. He caught 105 passes for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns this season, leading the Patriots in all three categories.

Edelman briefly discussed his upcoming offseason with 98.5 The Sports Hub Thursday afternoon. He said he hasn’t talked to his agents about their plan for the offseason.

“Playing for New England is a dream, but like you said, there’s a short window in this sport,” Edelman said on Felger and Mazz. “I don’t know yet. There’s a lot of things that can happen going forward that could sway that one way or another. Hopefully it all works out in favor for both.”

Edelman specified that he wasn’t merely a slot receiver in 2013. Receivers that spend the bulk of their time inside tend to get lowballed on the open market.

“I played 51 percent of the snaps outside, though,” Edelman said. “But you can go ahead and call me a slot as well.”

It appeared Edelman was the only receiver Patriots quarterback Tom Brady trusted after tight end Rob Gronkowski went down with a torn ACL. Because of Edelman’s chemistry with Brady, his value might be higher in New England than anywhere else.

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