It really is refreshing to see how time can change perception of things; I'm specifically thinking of that 2009 draft. Any draft that can acquire talent like Solder, Chung, and Edelman is a good one.
I remember a lot of criticism of that 2009 draft class during the first few seasons, or so. A good chunk of the growing skepticism was due to the final-nail-in-the-coffin assessment of the 2006 and 2007 drafts (i.e. Maroney's benching in '09 & Meriweather's suspension in '10). Solder was always recognized as a good pick, but people were really ripping Belichick for how he handled that 2nd round. I think this criticism and perception of Belichick having poor drafts also carried over into the mainstream media, too (I can still hear Mel Kiper, in later drafts, saying "Todd, Todd, Todd, but they could've had Clay Matthews if they didn't trade out of the 1st round!"). Edelman looked promising in 2009, but was then injured again and again. Chung -- the successor to Rodney Harrison -- wasn't really allowed to play the box, and never really established his value; instead, always forced to play deep due to such an awful D at the time.
But sure enough, after 2013, Edelman proved that he really could take over for Welker. And, despite going to Philly for 2013, Chung really found his role at SS when NE finally acquired the surrounding the talent. And, of course, trading out of the 1st rd in 2009, eventually lead to the the acquisition of 2010 2nd rd pick that was used to acquire Gronk in 2010.
