Where Does Julian Edelman Rank Among the NFL's Top Wide Receivers?

The New England Patriots have built a dynasty on the backs of bargain-bin players.

Everyone knows the story of Tom Brady, who went from sixth-round pick to NFL megastar. Super Bowl XLIX hero Malcolm Butler was an undrafted free agent.

There was another Patriots player who has gone from seventh-round pick to Super Bowl star. In fact, Julian Edelman has quietly gone from former MAC quarterback to one of the NFL's very best at what he does.

Edelman played a huge role in the Patriots' victory over the Seattle Seahawks. The six-year NFL veteran hauled in nine passes for 109 yards in Super Bowl XLIX, including the game-winning score.

The performance was all the more impressive given that Edelman did much of that damage after absorbing this thunderous hit in the second half.

What it wasn't was surprising. After all, since Wes Welker departed the Patriots in free agency before the 2013 season, Edelman has emerged as Brady's go-to guy at the wide receiver position.

Of course, as Benjamin Hoffman of The New York Times pointed out, that wasn't exactly the plan:

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Two hundred thirty-one players were selected ahead of Edelman in the 2009 draft; scouts could not decide what position he should play. A supremely athletic quarterback in his time at Kent State, Edelman was considered a student of the game but not a legitimate prospect to remain behind center. The Patriots, as they often have with other players, saw an opportunity to take advantage of Edelman’s athleticism and reshape him for a position at which they believed he would be a better fit.

For Edelman, that meant serving as a kick and punt returner, occasionally filling in as a defensive back, and carrying out a long apprenticeship at receiver. Going into 2013, it was unclear if he would ever fully make the transition, with many still considering him a quarterback trying to play wide receiver. His stock was low enough that the Patriots let him become a free agent after that season before bringing him back at a minimum salary.

In the past two seasons, all the questions about his ability to adapt have fallen away. Edelman has made 197 receptions — a total surpassed in the N.F.L. in that period only by Antonio Brown and Demaryius Thomas.

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Julian Edelman did not care for the plan. His magnificent beard scoffed at it.

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

And there's no defying that beard, folks.

Now, not only is Edelman the best wide receiver the Patriots have, but he's probably the best wideout in the entire AFC East.

But when the conversation turns to the best receivers in all of the NFL, it's unlikely you're going to hear Edelman's name called a lot.

And in that respect, the 28-year-old still isn't getting the respect he deserves.

Mind you, I'm not going to sit here and say that Edelman is comparable to the likes of Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions or Dez Bryant of the Dallas Cowboys. Johnson is 6'5". Edelman is 5'10"—on a good day—with his shoes on.

Comparing Megatron and Minitron is apples and oranges.

However, what happens when we compare Edelman to players who share a similar role and skill set?

For the purposes of this exercise, we're going to compare Edelman's numbers over the past two seasons to that of Emmanuel Sanders of the Denver Broncos and T.Y. Hilton of the Indianapolis Colts. All three share a similar build. All three spend time lined up both outside and in the slot.

And all three play with Pro Bowl quarterbacks. None of that "but he plays with Tom Braaadyyyy" caterwauling here.

Gary Davenport/Bleacher Report

Hilton leads the way in yardage per game and per catch over the past two seasons. Sanders has more touchdown grabs. But Edelman holds his own in this three-way battle of vertically challenged receivers.

Simply put, Edelman doesn't get the credit he deserves for his athleticism. Far too many fans and pundits alike see him as Wes Welker revisited, a player who compensates for a lack of speed and quickness with grit and solid route running.

Edelman's athleticism shows itself in more ways than just as a receiver as well.

Among players with more than 20 punt returns in 2014, Edelman's 12 yards per return ranked second in the NFL. He reeled off a 45-yarder in the Patriots' blowout win over the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game.

Then there was the 51-yard touchdown pass Edelman threw in the divisional round against the Baltimore Ravens.

Edelman is the Patriots' Swiss army knife on offense. And not only is Edelman capable of contributing to the Pats in any number of ways, but as he told Hoffman, Edelman is always open to trying new ways to help the team win:

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Anytime the coach asks you to do anything around here, you’re going to jump on it. That’s ultimately how I made this team, and I take pride in going out there and trying to contribute in any kind of way I can.

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So, rather than quantifying Edelman's success these past two years by saying "he's been great—for a slot guy" or "he's been great, but he gets to play with Tom Brady," let's give Julian Edelman his due.

He's been great—period.

And once again the Patriots reached into the bargain bin and hit the proverbial jackpot.

Gary Davenport is an NFL Analyst at Bleacher Report and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow Gary on Twitter @IDPManor.