Patriots' Julian Edelman Discusses Possible Retirement: 'We're Not There Yet'

New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman said Thursday he hasn't decided whether he's going to retire or return for the 2021 NFL season.

"We're not there yet," Edelman said on the Pardon My Take podcast (via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk), adding he's going to spend time with his family to decompress while thinking over his options.

Edelman was limited to six appearances in 2020 before undergoing knee surgery in October that brought his campaign to a premature end.

The 34-year-old caught just 21 passes this season, but he's just one year moved from posting 100 catches for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns while playing all 16 games.

He told Pardon My Take his focus is making sure he's back to full strength physically so he can have a productive offseason program should he choose to continue his career, adding:

"It was a rough year when it came to just my physicality and how I felt. It's tough, but this is the time where you sit and you self-reflect. You self-evaluate and you self-scout yourself through all last year. You're really go in and try to develop a formula and try to develop a game plan for how you're going to attack the offseason. That's the process I'm in right now."

The three-time Super Bowl champion has another season on his contract, per Spotrac. The deal includes up to $900,000 in active game bonuses, a $300,000 workout bonus and a $500,000 incentive for every 10 receptions beginning at 60.

New England has already dealt with a lack of offensive playmakers since late in Tom Brady's tenure with the organization, and it would become enough more of a concern heading toward 2021 if Edelman decides to hang up his cleats.

Jakobi Meyers (729 receiving yards) and Damiere Byrd (604) were the team's top two wideouts in 2020, while 2019 first-round pick N'Keal Harry (309) once again failed to make a significant impact.

The Patriots tried to remain competitive following Brady's departure last year by signing Cam Newton. But Newton didn't look like the quarterback who won the MVP Award in 2015, and his lack of success as a passer was a major reason the team finished 7-9—its first losing season since 2000.

With no franchise QB in place and numerous questions elsewhere on the roster, including Edelman's future, the Pats could be heading toward a full-scale rebuild in 2021.