The discussion here over what Julian Edelman was able to do as a rookie was the inspiration for the latest edition for the Hot List — the best rookie season by a Patriot in the Bill Belichick Era.

Understand that this is different than the list of best draft picks — while many of those players blossomed into Pro Bowlers, they all had varying degrees of success in their rookie season. Instead, this list is strictly for those who made a significant impact in their first year in the league. (Overall playing time, including starts, as well as expectations and performance all played a role in my decision.)

It’s a group that has only a precious few real candidates — since he became head coach in New England in 2000, Belichick has preferred to mostly build around veterans, augmenting the lineup with an occasional veteran acquisition. But along the way, there have been some undeniable breakout rookie seasons. Here’s our choice for the five best:

5. Richard Seymour (2001): As a rookie on the 2001 team, Seymour made a remarkable 10 starts, one of the highest figures for any rookie under Belichick. The Georgia product played in 13 regular-season games overall, and all three playoff games that year (starting two of them). Even in the early stages of his career, it was clear Seymour had the ability to create havoc along the defensive line from many different positions — he played nose tackle, defensive tackle and defensive end as a rookie, showing flashes of versatility. He would go on to play nine seasons with the Patriots before being dealt to Oakland in September 2009 for a first-round pick in 2011.

4. Sebastian Vollmer (2009): The massive tackle out of Houston was a spot player until Matt Light went down with a knee injury in an October loss to the Broncos in Denver. That’s when Vollmer stepped in. Before long, it was clear the New England offensive line was a better unit when he was on the field. Like all great rookies, Vollmer had a moment when he was able to announce his presence with authority — Nov. 15 against the Colts. In a game that was remembered more for 4th and 2 than anything else, Vollmer provided a glimpse of greatness. Going up against Indianapolis pass rusher Dwight Freeney, Vollmer (who did get some help from fellow o-lineman Logan Mankins) blunted the All-Pro, holding him without a tackle and a sack all night, an amazing feat considering that Freeney entered the game with at least one sack in his last nine games, one shy of tying an NFL record. He remained in the lineup for most of the rest of the regular season (from Week 14 on, he was at right tackle, and from Week 15 on, he started there the rest of the way). Ultimately, he started eight regular season games, as well as the playoff loss to the Ravens. (In that one, he played all 68 offensive snaps at right tackle.)

3. Jerod Mayo (2008): The popular belief that only veterans could play linebacker for the Patriots was shattered by Mayo. As a rookie, he started all 16 games at inside linebacker and ended the year with 139 tackles — not only tops on the team, but the best total by any rookie that year. He had flashes of greatness throughout his rookie season (including a hit on Baltimore’s Ray Rice in the preseason that caused the running back’s helmet to pop off), but he announced his arrival on the national stage in a Nov. 13 loss to the Jets at Gillette Stadium when he finished with a season-high 23 tackles. As a result, he became just the second Patriots player to win the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, joining future Hall of Famer Mike Haynes (1976).

2. Deion Branch (2002): Branch opened his NFL career with a stellar rookie season, catching 43 passes for 489 yards and a pair of touchdowns, giving him a narrow edge over Edelman’s rookie performance for a spot on this list. He stepped into the role of No. 3 receiver nicely behind Troy Brown and David Patten. Branch’s coming out party came in a September loss to the Chargers in San Diego — after catching a combined 15 passes through his first three games, he scorched the Chargers for 13 catches and 128 receiving yards. That season, he would go on to play in 13 games, starting seven of them. He would go on to lead the team in receptions two of the next three seasons, and win MVP honors at Super Bowl XXXIX before the Patriots dealt him to Seattle in September 2006 for a first-round pick.

1. Logan Mankins (2005): Under Belichick, few rookies start. Even fewer draw more than eight starting assignments a year. That would make Mankins a rare breed — since he arrived in 2005, he has started every game. Five years, start to finish, every game. (We have written this before, but his rock-solid presence now means that its news when he misses a practice, let alone a few snaps in a game.) That includes going wire-to-wire as a rookie in 2005 (plus two playoff games), all coming at the same position, left guard. That year, he showed flashes of what might make him one of the nastier guys in the league. In the opener, he blasted veteran Ted Washington after the whistle. (That drew a stern rebuke from the ill-tempered Washington, who told Mankins in no uncertain terms what he thought of that move. “He looked at me and said, ‘Young feller, don’t do that again,’” Mankins later recalled.”) Later that year, he got into it with Denver defensive lineman Ebenezer Ekuban, driving a fist into his groin after Mankins became tired of Ekuban stepping on his hand over and over again. In the end, Mankins is the clear choice because he never appeared overwhelmed as a rookie — from the moment he stepped on the field in his first practice, he looked like he belonged.

Best of the rest:
Matt Light (2001): It’s hard to look at his numbers and what he was able to accomplish as a rookie and not place Light in the top 5. He played in 14 games as a rookie, and made 12 starts at left tackle during the re, as well as three in the postseason. In a year where the offensive line was charged with keeping the heat off Tom Brady, he played well enough to land on the 2001 Football News All-Rookie Team.

Stephen Gostkowski (2006): Asked to replace a future Hall of Famer, Gostkowski had a sensational rookie season, going 20-for-26 on field goals and 43-for-44 on extra points. Kicked some big field goals in his first postseason, including a 31-yarder that proved to be the difference late in the fourth to beat the Chargers in San Diego in the divisional playoffs and two fourth-quarter field goals against the Colts in Indianapolis in the AFC Championship Game.

Vince Wilfork (2004): Started six games as a rookie and led all rookies that season with 57 tackles and a pair of sacks. In addition, he drew the start in Super Bowl XXXIX against the Eagles.

Eugene Wilson/Asante Samuel (2003): It was tough leaving this pair out of the top 5 — these two defensive backs had great seasons as rookies. Wilson was never better than his rookie season, when made the switch from corner to safety. In his first season, he ended up starting 15 of the 16 regular-season games and all three playoff games at free safety. (He had four picks on the year.) Meanwhile, Samuel played in 13 games and made eight starts at corner, and ended the season with a pair of interceptions and a team-high 12 passes defensed.

Dan Koppen (2003): After an injury to incumbent Damien Woody at the start of the 2003 season Koppen stepped in as a rookie and didn’t miss a beat. He played in 16 games and started 15 regular-season games, as well as all three postseason contests.