It is absolutely at least partly Belichick’s fault. All the in season scouting for the 2024 draft was done under Belichick and directed by Belichick with the scouting tools that Belichick wanted them to use. They didn’t start scouting players after the NCAA season was over.
The scouting for any draft is done in the previous season from the draft. So they were scouting players like Polk while Belichick was the GM. They were using the tools he allowed them to use.
I don’t blame Belichick and Pioli for the the 2000 draft disaster because he was using Bobby Grier’s scouting. That was more Bobby Grier’s draft than Belichick’s. That is what happens when there is regime change. It isn't about hating Belichick.
The fact is that Belichick didn't believe in analytics for player evaluations. Most of the best drafting teams like the Eagles live by it. Since Belichick left, Wolf has created and expanded the analytics department and expanded the player personnel department in general where Belichick had a very small staff. When Vrabel came in, the effort to expand the scouting department was even stronger. This is well documented.
Under Mike Vrabel, the Patriots continue to add to their analytics department. The team is also adding to their front office. Here's more about the new hires
www.masslive.com
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated joined "Patriots Pregame Live" to share what he's hearing about Pats vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and how New England should build its front office.
sports.yahoo.com