Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker will not re-sign with New England before testing the free agent market, a league told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday. Unrestricted free agents can sign with other teams starting March 12th.
Welker finished last season with a team-high 118 catches and 1,354 yards, along with six touchdowns. Welker became the first player in NFL history with five 110-catch seasons and has averaged 112 receptions per season since joining New England six seasons ago.
Welker, 31, was received a franchise tag from the Patriots last season. New England chose not to issue a single franchise tender to any player this offseason, the first time the team has done so since 2008.
Had New England chose to franchise Welker again this offseason, he would be entitled to a 20 percent raise from his 2012 salary of $9.5 million, paying him $11.4 million in 2013. With Tom Brady's recent restructured contract, New England and their quarterback may have potentially made room to give Brady's top target a long-term deal.
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