The oldest guy is Nick Folk at 38. They have 9 guys who are 30+ including Edelman who is on the IR. 13 if you include Hightower, Chung, Bolden, and Cannon. 13 out of the 88 players with whom they have contracts. That's 14% of the roster.
The Patriots draft record in the last 3 years has been pretty good.. Contrary to most Negative Nancies on this board. Michel, Harris, Onwenu, Wynn, Harry, Herron, Cowart, Stidham, Bailey, Winovich, Williams, Maluia, Froholdt, Dugger. There are guys they've traded or were signed off the practice squad by other teams in Crossen, Dawson and Webster. Then there is Berrios who is actually playing well for the Jetes. The Jury is still out on Uche, Jennings, Rohrwasser, Asiasi, Keene, and Cajuste but they are rooks and it's to be expected. But, seriously 20 of 29 guys from the last 3 drafts with 5 guys who haven't seen enough playing time to make a judgement.
You don't seem to realize that the approach you mention is almost exactly what BB does. It's rare for him to use a high round pick (Top 3 rounds. 2 in the past 11 years) on a WR. In fact, he drafts WRs at about half the rate other teams do. BB has used 5 Top 3 picks on RBs since 2009. Ridley, Vereen, Michel, Harris, and White. I think most people would say that having those guys produce at the journeyman level or better is a pretty good success rate.
Since 2009, BB has used 7 picks out of 46 picks (15.22%) that the team has had in the top 3 rounds on "skill positions" (RB&WR) . By comparison, the Steelers have had 38 picks in the top 3 rounds in the same time frame and used 11 picks (28.95%) on "skill positions".
Now, you made a claim about the team supposedly "lacking talent everywhere" but that's just not supported by facts. This O-line has proven to be very deep despite all the injuries and Cannon sitting out. The DB depth is excellent. Where they are thin is on the D-line and at LB. Unfortunately, Bentley has regressed. Mainly because he's being asked to be something he's not. A 3 down ILB who can play sideline to sideline. Hightower opting out and the losses of Van Noy and Collins hurt. The unexpected loss of Beau Allen and the injury to Butler hasn't helped Guy at all. Cowart being gone because of Covid didn't help matters.
WR is the other glaring position. But they aren't helped at all by the horrendous QB play we've had the last 4 weeks. Cam cost us each of the last 2 games with his pathetic play. There is talent there, but it's no use if the QB can't get them the ball properly. We could have Jerry RIce and Michael Irving for our top 2 WRs and they'd look like crap too because of how Cam has played. Until the QB position is improved, the WRs are going to look worse than they actually are.
