Julian Edelman re-signs with Patriots

The Patriots retained one of Tom Brady's favorite targets in Julian Edelman. (Bob Leverone/AP)

The Patriots decided to keep Tom Brady's favorite target from last season, as wide receiver Julian Edelman re-signed with New England on Saturday, he announced on his Twitter feed. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Edelman, who'll turn 28 in May, was an unrestricted free agent for a second straight year, but he is coming off a very different season than a year ago.

In 2012, the former seventh-round pick out of Kent State caught 21 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns. But last year Edelman emerged from an injury-depleted receiving corps to catch 105 passes (fourth in the league) for 1,056 yards and six touchdowns — all career highs, by far.

Edelman, who has four career return touchdowns, also averaged 10.7 yards on 35 punt returns last season.

He made a little more than $1 million last season, including all the incentives he hit.

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"The main thing about this year was that I had four years under my belt and 'could I stay healthy?' I haven't been able to stay healthy for a whole year," Edelman, who missed 16 games his first four seasons in the league, told ESPN Radio's "SVP and Russillo" program in the week leading up to the Super Bowl. "I was able to stay healthy and then guys get hurt and you're given an opportunity."