I'm skeptical of Edelman getting a racial apprenticeship. The Patriots offense of 2010-2012 was a juggernaut built around Welker, Gronkowski, and Hernandez. Edelman got plenty of action as a rookie in 2009 before Gronkowski and Hernandez were drafted in 2010. Belichick also gave Edelman a chance to supplant Welker in 2012, and he wasn't able to do so. Everything changed in 2013, when Welker left for Denver, Gronkowski had back surgery, and Hernandez was revealed as a murderer. With the Patriots decimated on offense, Edelman stepped up and has never looked back.
I don't think Edelman received any major benefit for identifying as Jewish. He has been grossly underpaid in his career, just like Welker. The treatment of Josh Rosen has revealed there is no big benefit to being a Jewish NFL player. In keeping with their long history of avoiding physical labor, the Jewish interest in the NFL is in ownership and media.