FOXBORO — Patriots Hall of Fame wide receiver Julian Edelman sees an improving team led by head coach Mike Vrabel this season, but he’s still realistic in his expectations for his former squad.
Edelman was asked about his impressions of the 2025 team on Friday after their 1-1 start.
“They definitely look like they improved from Week 1 to Week 2,” Edelman said at his jacket fitting at the Patriots Hall of Fame. “I think it’s going to be a long process. Rome wasn’t built overnight. It’s very tough to win in this game, and I’m excited with where the offense is going.”
The Super Bowl LIII MVP also said it won’t be a “bad year” for the Patriots if they don’t make the playoffs, but he does expect them to do “good things” this season.
Edelman was especially bullish on quarterback Drake Maye, who showed dramatic improvement from Week 1 to Week 2. Edelman, a converted quarterback himself, noted that Maye had to learn a completely different system in Year 2.
“He’s looking a lot more comfortable to me,” Edelman said. “He’s looking like he’s processing. He’s looking like he’s throwing with his feet under him, which, that’s a big part of playing quarterback.
“Those operational skills in a Josh McDaniels offense are completely different than what he did the year before, and there’s probably more demanding for the quarterback — getting the play call in, establishing the personnel, communicating the play, getting the line of scrimmage, taking a pre snap read of the front, the coverage, taking a post snap, all while making sure all your guys are set and like, that’s a lot of work. And probably having two plays to try to get the best play in on the field.”
The Patriots’ defense did struggle in their first two games, but Edelman, who also moonlighted as a slot cornerback in his playing days, expects the entire team to improve as long as the defense takes strides this season.
Edelman was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame on Saturday with ex-head coach Bill Parcells.
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