It was also interesting to hear San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh speak highly of receiver Julian Edelman, who visited the 49ers before re-signing a four-year, $17 million deal with New England.
“It was really an honor to meet him,” Harbaugh said. “What a classy young man. He’s got a great situation in New England.”
Harbaugh said he was impressed with Edelman’s ability to describe his transition from a college quarterback at Kent State to a wide receiver and punt returner with the Patriots. Edelman had only 69 catches for 714 yards and four touchdowns in his first four NFL seasons combined, but had 105 catches for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns last year.
“His understanding of football, where he is now as a player compared to where he was as a rookie, really resonated with me,” Harbaugh said. “Just how tough it is going from college to pro, trying to now defeat press coverage, to then get back to where your spot is, where you’re supposed to be in the route, then thinking about catching the football, and just how difficult it is, and that understanding and putting it all together doesn’t really happen until year three or four.
“It was very enlightening to me. I never had it explained so clearly to me as the way he did it.”
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