Edelman was once viewed as injury prone and expendable. How many times has the Patriots, the Media, and the Fans been wrong?

I maybe assuming that the Patriots viewed Julian Edelman as an expendable injury prone returnman but so was pretty much every writer in in 2013 after the 2012 season. We have seen the Patriots let guys test the market and let teams over pay and if the offer is believed reasonable, the Patriots match it. 

Like Gunner Olszewski who was a defensive back in college, Edelman also changed positions when entering the NFL and even the it was the preseason, both have pretty much done everything on their rookie contract. Unlike with Edelman, the Patriots feared that if they let Gunner go in 2019, he would not revert to the practice squad. So they made moves to keep him. As I wrote in my recent article, Gunner was said to be the most improved receiver in the camp back in last August. There may not have been as many fans calling for Olszewski as there was calls for Meyers but fans were calling for them both. 

In Julian Edelman's first four years he played in 48 out of 64 games. Edelman was targeted 54 times in his 7 games during his rookie year. His second and third year, Edelman played in a combined 28 games and only was targeted 23 times. In his fourth year, Edelman was targeted 32 times.

In 2013 Brandon Loydd and Wes Welker departed and the Patriots drafted Aaron Dobson in the second round. They also drafted Josh Boyce and signed Danny Amendola to a 5 year 31 million dollar contract. The Patriots also let Julian Edelman test free agency.

So what was the story going round about free agent Edelman after the 2012 season?

In 2013 Greg Knopping of Patspalpit wrote wrote, "Edelman has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, and asking him to take over a bigger role on the offense could be a dangerous proposition. Edelman has also had a tough time over the years securing a consistent role on the offense, and that has to be a slight concern. If the Patriots do end up re-signing Welker, and a market grows for Edelman's services, the Patriots could choose to look in another direction."

Mike Garafolo of USA Today wrote in april 2013, "The Patriots are busy working to strengthen their corps of wide receivers via their offer to Sanders, their re-signing of Edelman and their adding Danny Amendola and Donald Jones and Michael Jenkins. Edelman also will factor into their return game as well."

Chris Wesseling of NFL.com in 2013 wrote, "It's Edelman's first reported visit of free agency. Perhaps the lack of league-wide interest can be attributed to the season-ending foot injury that landed Edelman on injury reserve in December. He's hardly been a picture of health, missing time with hand, forearm, foot, ankle and concussion injuries.."

"his biggest challenge always has been proving he could hold up to the pounding that comes with his kamikaze style..."

"We still wouldn't rule out a return to the Patriots, though Edelman is no longer viewed as Wes Welker's successor with wide receiver Danny Amendola in the fold."

Jeff Howe of the Athletic Wrote, "Edelman is visiting with the Giants today and tomorrow, according to a source. There has been some discussion about a reunion between Edelman and the Patriots, but the two sides haven't been able to strike a deal, for whatever reason. Usually, such reasons involve money, but Edelman might be looking for more playing time, too. Since the Pats moved on from Wes Welker and gave Danny Amendola $31 million over five years, the chance to move up the depth chart might not exist."

Nick Underhill of Masslive wrote, "Though his season was cut short after suffering a broken foot in Week 13. He also suffered a broken hand and a concussion at various points in the season.

Those injuries will likely cause the Giants, or any other team, to take pause before committing to Edelman, so the Pats may still have a chance to keep the former college quarterback in town."

Patriots.com writer Andy Hart wrote in 2013, "As for the Welker issue, which will come up often in this mailbag, I'm not ready to kick him to the curb and try to replace him with a guy who has far less sure hands and a much greater injury risk based on his short career. Edelman is a very good punt returner, but in terms of replacing Welker on offense I'm not going to make that leap just yet."

AFC scout insider Gary Horton was quoted by Mike Reiss of saying,  "Primarily though, he (Edelman) will take snaps at wide receiver -- either wide or in the slot -- and he has even played some on defense at the corner position. If that isn't enough, he can also give you stability in the kicking game as a kickoff and punt returner. He is not dazzling in any of these areas, but he is dependable and not mistake prone."

The Providence Journal Staff wrote in 2013,

"In another move to shore up New England’s thin corps of wide receivers, New England reached a one-year deal with free agent Julian Edelman. The signing was first reported by USA Today..." "The injury-prone Edelman missed the last three weeks of the regular season in 2013 after breaking his foot against Miami. He played in nine games last year and had 21 catches for 235 yards and three touchdowns. He is also the only player in the NFL to score on a punt return in each of the last three seasons."

Mike Reiss of ESPN also wrote in November of 2013, "At the time, Edelman felt somewhat jilted by not receiving a more aggressive offer from the Patriots, who instead had turned their attention to free agent Danny Amendola. That was the same offseason that Wes Welker departed in free agency."

Albert Breer wrote on April 21,2021, "Easy to forget the Patriots almost pulled the plug on the Julian Edelman Experiment in 2013. Had been a great returner/special teamer, filled in at DB, hadn't quite made it at WR. So the Pats signed Amendola to replace Welker. Edelman returned on a 1-year deal. Rest is history."

My assumptions and projections are based off what I read from players, personnel, and the media. And my understanding and logic of everything I comprise. Edelman might have been viewed as the Welker replacement or much valuable piece that the Patriots were willing to let walk away. Teams let players they view valuable just walk away all the time.

I could be wrong about Olszewski being nothing more than a return man but I was one among many who were calling for him to get playing time. I was also one among many questioning what was wrong with Meyers and assuming he must have digressed or had bad chemistry for him not to be getting playing time after his rookie season.

Everyone knows Belichick redshirts people and relies on the preseason for evaluations. So Meyers and Olszewski could've both been not played for the same reasons. When Olszewski was on the field he made some heads up plays, like his sliding catch versus Seattle or KC on a pass thrown to Edelman. Edelman got buried on a depth chart and was injury prone. Olszewski could've been buried to. 

There have been plenty of former free agents to come in and fail, for us not to assume Bourne or Agholor will succeed just because they were signed. They could end up as bad as Eric Decker, Jordan Matthews, Ochocino, Ronald Jones and Reggie Wayne, or they could work out like Amanedola, Welker, Hogan, or Moss. There have also been many UDFAs who have took awhile but succeeded in New England.