We take a look back at Julian Edelman's 2016 season and offer our predictions for 2017.
2016 Honors & Awards: AFC Offensive Player of the Week (Wk. 17)
2016 Regular Season Stats:98 receptions for 1,106 yards and three touchdowns; 57 rushing yards on 12 attempts
Julian Edelman set a number of personal career highs in 2016 to go along with both franchise and NFL record marks:
- Had his second career 1,000-yard receiving season after setting a single-season best with 1,106 yards and joins Wes Welker (5), Rob Gronkowski (3), Randy Moss (3), Stanley Morgan (3) and Terry Glenn (2) as the only Patriots players with at least two 1,000-yard seasons.
- Scored on a 77-yard touchdown in the third quarter of the Week 17 victory at Miami to mark a career long and his fourth career touchdown reception of 50 or more yards. Also set a single-game career high in receiving yards with a 151-yard performance at Miami.
- Caught five passes for 87 yards, including a miraculous bobbling catch between three defenders on the game-tying drive at the end of regulation vs. Atlanta in Super Bowl LI to bring his career postseason reception total to 89, good for third all-time in NFL postseason history.
- Led the Patriots or was tied for the lead in single game receptions in 12 out of the 16 regular season contests in 2016.
- Became the Patriots all-time leader in postseason receptions after recording nine catches in the Patriots AFC Championship victory vs. Pittsburgh. Also moved past Deion Branch with a 41-yard reception in the first quarter for the most receiving yards in Patriots postseason history.
Check out the best photos of Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman from the 2016 NFL season.
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman gets pumped up before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman is upended and flipped in the air after making a reception against the Atlanta Falcons during the NFL Super Bowl LI football game on Sunday, Feb. 05, 2017 in Houston. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28 in overtime. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman warms up before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) warms up prior to the NFL AFC Divisional football game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Texans 34-16. (Jim Mahoney via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) leads the team onto the field before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. The Seahawks defeated the Patriots, 31-24. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New England Patriots wore receiver Julian Edelman (11) enters the field before the divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans Saturday January 14, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) warms up prior to the NFL AFC Divisional football game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Texans 34-16. (Jim Mahoney via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman runs a pass route during the second half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) catches a pass during warm ups prior to a game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 in Foxborough, Mass. The New England Patriots won 34-16. (Logan Bowles via AP Images)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) is up ended on a tackle during an NFL Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. New England won Super Bowl LI 34-28 in overtime. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman lines us for a play during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday January 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) is tackled by Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins (32) during the NFL Super Bowl LI football game at NRG Stadium on Sunday, February 5, 2017 in Houston, TX. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with wide receiver Julian Edelman(11) after winning the NFL football Super Bowl LI game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. The Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34 - 28 in overtime. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) catches the ball against Atlanta Falcons strong safety Keanu Neal (22), Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (23) and Atlanta Falcons free safety Ricardo Allen (37) during Super Bowl LI on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. ThePatriots won in overtime, 34-28. (Ric Tapia via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) dives for an incomplete third down pass in the end zone while covered by Buffalo Bills cornerback Ronald Darby (28) in the fourth quarter during the 2016 NFL week 8 regular season football game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016 in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Patriots won the game 41-25. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) attempts to make a reception as Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard (25) defends on the play during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) reacts after running out for intros prior to a game against the Houston Texans, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 in Foxborough, Mass. The New England Patriots won 34-16. (Logan Bowles via AP Images)
New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman is upended and flipped in the air after making a reception against the Atlanta Falcons during the NFL Super Bowl LI football game on Sunday, Feb. 05, 2017 in Houston. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28 in overtime. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) returns a punt 8 yards in the 4th quarter during the 2016 NFL week 6 football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016 in Foxboro, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Bengals 35-17. ( Jim Mahoney via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) before an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 12, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots wore receiver Julian Edelman (11) enters the field before the divisional playoff game against the Houston Texans Saturday January 14, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots' Julian Edelman makes a catch as Atlanta Falcons' Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal defend, during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) taps his toes in bounds as he catches a 4 yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone for a 6-0 first quarter Patriots lead while covered by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Keith Reaser (27) during the 2016 NFL week 11 regular season football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016 in Santa Clara, Calif. The Patriots won the game 30-17. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) jumps into the arms of quarterback Tom Brady (12) to celebrate after the game winning touchdown during an NFL Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. New England won 34-28 in overtime. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) celebrates his touchdown with wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Patriots defeated the 49ers, 30-17. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) looks on during the Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. The Patriots won the game 34-28 in overtime. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins (32) upends New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) during the NFL football Super Bowl LI game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. The New England Patriots won 34 - 28 in overtime. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass with Danny Amendola against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
New York Jets safety Rontez Miles (45) upends New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman leads his team onto the field for the AFC championship NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
New England Patriots' Julian Edelman is upended by Atlanta Falcons' Philip Wheeler, bottom, during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
New England Patriots' Julian Edelman catches the ball as Atlanta Falcons' Robert Alford (23) and Keanu Neal defend, during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Belichick on Edelman: "Julian has great concentration. He is a tremendous competitor. As good of a competitor as anyone that I have coached. This guy has played slot defensive back for us, returns kicks, covers kicks, blocks, catches tough passes, runs the ball for us on sweeps and stuff like that. He does whatever it takes. He made a tremendous play [with his bobbling catch in double coverage during Super Bowl LI]. It is not the first one he has made, but that was obviously a big one."
Edelman in 2017: Edelman appeared in every game for the first time in his career and continues to be one of the most productive slot receivers in football. His rapport with Brady makes them one of the most prolific duos in the league and his competitiveness will keep him at the top of the quarterback's list of targets moving forward.
