No. His career regular season stats, whether over time or at their height, compare unfavorably to guys like Terry Glenn, Joey Galloway, Stevie Johnson, and Keenan McCardell. Guys who have no shot of ever getting in. Welker is a longshot and he was a better player.
Think about all the receivers he'll be competing against who will be up after he retires: Torry Holt, Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne, Steve Smith, Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Brandon Marshall, AJ Green, Wes Welker, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Jordy Nelson, Demaryius Thomas, eventually Julio Jones and TY Hilton. Not all of those guys will get in, and - homer goggles off - is there any of those you wouldn't have traded for Edelman straight up at their height?
Edelman's been a tremendous player and truly clutch in the playoffs but playoff stats simply mean little to voters except for quarterbacks. And Edelman also doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame. He's not an all-time great. He's never been among the 5 best WRs in the league. He's not Randy Moss, he's not Jerry Rice, he's not even near Cris Carter or Andre Reed. Cliff Branch has far better regular season stats, All Pros, three rings, comparable playoff stats, and was only a semifinalist twice and has no chance of ever getting in. Edelman has no chance.
But he is an all-time great Patriot. He'll get that red jacket and deserve every thread in it. We'll never forget him.
Only Hall of Famers from this era of the Patriots are Brady, Belichick, Gronk, and (insofar as he counts) Revis. Slater will be a semifinalist or whatever as they nod to special teams mattering but never sniff a finalist bid, just like Tasker. It's a while out but White could sniff it too. Lots of truly memorable players for all of us though. But let's be honest, the lack of the Hall of Fame or even All Pro caliber players beyond the QB and coach hint at just how great Brady and Belichick have been.
