First, anyone who plays with Mac Jones is going to suck. If AJ Brown were here, he wouldn't have the numbers.
But even if I agreed with what you wrote above 100% (let's pretend I do) it doesn't change the fact that the Patriots tried to sign the best players at those positions on the market. Hell, Belichick was criticized for spending so much free agency money before these players even saw the field. Henry, Algholor, Jonnu, even Smith-Schuster, these weren't bargain bin guys.
About the only guy they didn't pay in these years was Christian Kirk, who broke the bank with a huge guaranteed contract. He plays with a much better QB. If the Patriots signed him, he wouldn't have half the stats he does now.
Before Jonnu got hurt, he had 400 yards in half a season. Almost 2x as many yards as he had in 2 entire seasons with the Patriots. He left Mac and immediately became a producer.