Mike Garafolo of USA TODAY Sports reports that Patriots' free agent WR Julian Edelman is in New Jersey for a visit with the Giants. Edelman recorded 21 catches last season for 235 yards and three scores before being placed in injured reserve with a foot injury on December 4. He was also utilized as New England's main punt returner.
Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com believes that, even with Julian Edelman's visit to the Giants, the 26-year-old wide receiver may still find his way back to the Patriots. Curran notes that Edelaman's history of injury problems may make teams wary of signing him.
"If Edelman isn't finding money or a team willing to commit to him on the open market in 2013, it makes sense for Edelman to return to New England for the short-term, take less than he hoped and then hit the market when he's closer to a position of strength," adds Curran.
Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com writes that the Patriots currently have $10.2 million remaining in salary cap space, according to NFL Players Association calculations. While Reiss believes the team will be conservative in signing players looking for lucrative contracts, he notes that restricted free agent WR Emmanuel Sanders could still be in play as the Steelers have only $2.06 million remaining in cap space.
"If the Patriots are still considering Sanders, the $2.06 million figure shows how close the Steelers are to the cap, and how New England could potentially structure an offer sheet with a $3 million first-year cap charge that could put more stress on Pittsburgh's cap and potentially make it a challenge to match," writes Reiss.
The deadline to sign Sanders to an offer sheet is April 19.
Jeff Howe of The Boston Herald believes that drafting Mississippi State CB Johnthan Banks would add starting-caliber depth at the cornerback position. Howe notes that it's a "virtual certainty" that Banks will be available when the Patriots pick 29th in this year's draft, and gives reasons why the team would want him.
"Banks is a strong competitor with a good nose for the ball, and he is good in coverage. He plays aggressively and doesn't shy from contact, which might be from his background as a safety in high school and his first season in college. Banks has good height and length."
Rebkah Howard of FOX Sports gives an update on the status of Patriots free agent Donte' Stallworth after the veteran wideout was involved in a hot air balloon accident earlier this offseason. Stallworth was injured when the hot air balloon he was riding in hit power lines -- sending electrical shocks through is body.
"Days later, when former New England Patriots teammate Wes Welker and his wife Anna paid a visit, Stallworth tried to describe the pain of electrical shock in terms Welker could relate to: "Imagine the hardest hit you've ever taken and multiply that by 1,000,"" writes Howard.
Stallworth suffered severe burns, but they were not life or career-threatening.
