In response to Low-FB-IQ's comment:
In response to dapats1281's comment:
In response to PatsEng's comment:
Edelman is a good #3 or 4 WR and can make things happen if he has space but I agree his hands aren't the best for quick passes. He does need a softer throw and time to react. Which is why he'll remain the 3rd look on most plays and things start to break down and he has time to get enough separation to avoid Brady having to wing it in.
As for what he'll get in the open market I don't think much. Given injury history and he seems limited as the 3rd or 4th read I'm putting him somewhere in the $1.5mil-$2mil range mainly because of his value on STs
I disagree, he hasn't shown enough to be considered as a good #3. James Jones this season or Manningham last season are examples of good #3 Wrs. His career high in rec ards is 359. And in a lot of those years, Welker was the only legitimate WR on the depth chart.
When assessing a guys value, I think you need to look at what they do best. I think Edelman's biggest asset is his punt return ability. So I don't view Edelman as a receiver who can return punts, I view him as a punt returner who can contribute a little bit to the receving game. I would pay him as such. He has shown glimpses that he can be a large contributor in the receiving game. But after 4 seasons, if all we still have are just glimpses, I wouldn't get my hopes up that he will amount to more.
I am not sure I agree or not.
Frankly I am mystified as to how the Pats have handled him.
Edelman fills in admirably in 2009 when Welker goes down and proves he can be effective and play ball in the NFL.
Then unexplicably he disappears for two whole seasons. The Pats have a brain fog and forget about him and target him only 22 times in two seasons? Why? I have no idea.
So in the 4th year they some how decide he is their starting outside WR? Why now after not giving him two more full years of being more involved?
I've never understood his path with the Pats.
However, I like to always use a team who just won the superbowl as a benchmark. Afterall they just won the superbowl.
The Ravens have jacoby Jones as their #3 WR. In 16 games he had 54 targets, 30 catches, 1 TD, and 16 first downs.
Edelman only played in 9 games, had 32 targets, 21 catches, 3 TD's, and 12 first downs. You don't think he would have had as good and most likely better numbers than Jacoby Jones did over a 16 game schedule?
How is Edelman not good enough to be a #3 WR? Excluding the obvious he can not stay on the field.
Jacoby Jones is a #3 WR on a run heavy team. And while I don't think jones is that great, he still has a slightly better track record than Edelman. Jacoby is not that dynamic of a WR. He doesn't really get great seperation, he just has great football speed. The two of them actually have similar 40 times, (4.50ish)...which kind of goes to show you how little 40 times tell you cause Jones looks like a 4.3 guy when he runs with pads.
I never said Edelman couldn't be a number 3. I said you can't call him a good #3 WR. He has 5 career games over 50 yards. That's 53 games, if you include the playoffs. Maybe BB fudged up, but he sees him in practice, if he truly thought he was a valuable asset in the receiving game, he would've made room for him. Especially considering guys like Ochocinco and Deion Branch were a head of him. So it's not like he was buried in the depth chart behind great receivers.
Edelman hasn't done enough for me to feel comfortable with him as the #3 WR on most teams. Key word most. If Edelman is a #3 Wr on the Pats, he's really the 5th best receiving option because of Hern and Gronk...maybe 6th if Ballard can play at his 2011 level.
So Edelman could work here. But when assessing his value for resigning reasons (so salary into consideration), I wouldnt pay him like a good #3 Wr. Because I don't look at him like that. I think of him as a Cribbs/Hester type player, STer who gets some time in on offense. (not saying he's as good as those guys but their roles are somewhat similar)
Ahh ok. Didn't read it all well enough. Thought you were suggesting he couldn't be a number 3. I agree as well that although he could end up a #3 WR he would not be a #3 target most likely.
Yeah as far is his contract thing goes. Thats really outside my comfort zone of discussion but his injuriy history alone will prohibit him asking or getting much I would think.
