Jarrett Bell

USA TODAY Sports

Edelman caught 69 passes total in his first four seasons before reeling in 105 in 2013

Tom Brady has dubbed Edelman %27Minitron%27 for his great production

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Julian Edelman shook his head at the thought.

When it comes to the New England Patriots receivers corps, he's pretty much the grizzled veteran of the bunch. This is what five years in the offense can get you.

At 27, he's the old man.

"It's kind of crazy because last year you were the young guy and then all of a sudden you're kind of the old guy in the system," Edelman told USA TODAY Sports. "So that's part of the NFL."

That Edelman emerged as the Patriots' leading receiver this season — and not just the most tenured — is a stunning development that's germane to the NFL on another level.

Wes Welker, one of the most prolific receivers in Patriots history, bolted to the Denver Broncos last spring.

Somebody had to step up.

That Edelman — who caught 105 passes in the regular season and six in the divisional playoff game last weekend — became the go-to target for a team that is headed to Denver for the AFC title game ranks as one of the biggest surprises of the season.

In his first four campaigns, Edelman never played a full 16-game season. He was buried behind Welker on the depth chart as he converted from college quarterback, catching 69 balls prior to 2013.

But look at him now. He's the little receiver that can.

Tom Brady has even dubbed Edelman, listed at 5-10 and 198 pounds, as "Minitron" — a wisecracking play on Detroit Lions all-pro Calvin Johnson's "Megatron" moniker and an ultimate show of respect.

This is a case of a man being prepared for his big opportunity — and another example of the resourcefulness that is at the heart of winning for coach Bill Belichick's Patriots.

"I just see a guy that's driven to be a great player," offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said Tuesday.

When Welker left in March in an acrimonious split, the Patriots seemingly had covered themselves.

They signed former St. Louis Rams receiver Danny Amendola, who would reunite with McDaniels and assume the slot position that Welker used to amass 672 catches over six seasons.

Yet Amendola, who missed 23 games in four years with the Rams, suffered a groin injury in his Patriots debut and missed three games. He missed another game with a concussion.

When the dust settles through the unit's assorted setbacks, Edelman is the only Patriots receiver or tight end not to miss a game this season. That might have been as critical as any component in developing the consistency that coincides with Brady's trust.

"You've got to show it in practice," Edelman said. "Practice execution becomes game reality."

That sounds good enough, but it really hits home when considering how he got to this point. Edelman was a quarterback at Kent State. He entered the NFL in 2009 in long-shot territory as a seventh-round pick.

But Belichick, of course, saw something he could use in the raw talent. Like a punt returner developing to be a receiver. And now a more polished receiver who might be best suited for the slot but who also lined up on the outside this season more than Welker did — allowing the Patriots the flexibility to use Edelman or Amendola in the slot on any given play.

"He is a guy that embraces whatever role you give him each week," McDaniels said of Edelman. "He's capable of playing on the perimeter, and he has. He's also unselfish and will do whatever we ask of him in any role — whether that's to be a clear-out guy, block the secondary in the running game, whatever it may be."

But not everyone is impressed. Broncos safety Mike Adams said Monday that Edelman can't compare to Welker, that he lacks the type of speed and maneuverability to keep defenders off balance.

"He's a one-speed guy," Adams told Denver news reporters. "He doesn't have the same speed or the quickness that Wes has in the slot. I guess that's the main difference between them."

Edelman probably knew there would be a few comparisons to Welker this week. Now there's some added fuel with bulletin-board material.

And Edelman seems like the type to use it. Among the Patriots, he has the reputation as the scrapper who could always be found in the thick of training camp competitive skirmishes between receivers and defensive backs.

When the topic came up last week, cornerback Kyle Arrington stood at his locker and chuckled.

"He came out with that chip on his shoulder, a small guy from a small school," Arrington said. "The chip's still there."