Patriots news: Is this the final season for Julian Edelman in New England?

Entering the final year of his contract, could 2017 be the last season Julian Edelman suits up in a New England Patriots uniform?

If there was ever a play who encompasses what it means to be a New England Patriots player, it is Julian Edelman.

The converted quarterback out of Kent State has emerged as probably the top slot receiver in the NFL. He has done it with hard work and by putting his body on the line as evident by his performances in the team’s last two Super Bowl victories.

Named as one of the NFL’s top 100 players in 2017, Edelman has finally been recognized by the rest of the league as a special one-of-a-kind type player. He is a player Patriots fans can’t imagine the team without. But, entering the last year of his contract, it could become a reality following this season.

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Of course, it will depend on how much the Patriots are willing to pay and how much a pay cut Edelman is willing to take to stay in New England. If he was younger the ball would be in his court, but as he has just turned 31, the team will determine his worth like they have with other players approaching the end of their careers.

Not another Wes Welker situation

Unlike some of those players, comparably Wes Welker, Julian Edelman might be more willing to compromise on a team friendly contract. At least that’s what former Patriots fullback Heath Evans believes.

"“I know Wes got into a contract dispute with the Pats, and wound up going to Denver,” Evans said, via the Boston Herald. “I don’t think we’re going to see that with Jules. I think Jules embraces the grind-it-out-for-the-common-good mentality. I think he gets the fact, maybe taking less money, you make more for the next 20-30 years (with business interests), because you form such a legacy in an area of the country that’s never going to forget you.”"

Evans is right, Edelman has become one of the area’s most well recognized athletes. That recognition is fueled by his hard work on the football field along with his work in the community. It is also his self-less nature that makes him popular amongst teammates.

So, to answer the question as if this could be Julian Edelman’s last season with the Patriots, I believe both sides will find a way to make it work. However, Edelman may have to accept a decreased role in 2018 as the team appears focused on finding his successor.

Next: Boston Red Sox: David Price to make season debut on Monday

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