I have a theory about the league handicapping the Patriots that I'll preface by saying is the same sort of baseless, tinfoil hat nonsense that we make fun of other fanbases for coming up with. On the other hand, it's been rattling around in my head for a while, so this is as good a time as any to throw it out there: In addition to over-punishing New England for minor or non-existent infractions, what if there is also an unspoken agreement among other teams to be very stingy when making trades with the Patriots? In other words, you don't want to be the team that hands Belichick a Herschel Walker-type trade.
Chandler Jones has been brought up in this thread. The Patriots received a second round pick and a highly drafted guard who was a bust with Arizona and every other team he played with in exchange for Jones. Khalil Mack brought back 1st and 6th round picks in 2019 and 1st and 3rd picks in 2020. Jamal Adams and a 4th round pick were traded for a starting safety, 1st and 3rd picks in 2021 and a 1st round pick in 2022. Jimmy Garoppolo was traded for a second round pick. You can go back 15 years: Matt Schaub had 2 starts as a back up for the Falcons, but he was traded to Houston in 2007 for 2 second round picks and a swap of 1st round draft spots. In 2008, Matt Cassel, who started 15 games that season, was traded for a second round pick and the Patriots had to throw in Mike Vrabel, as well.
It just seems like when there's a talented, non-Patriots player on the trade market, the reaction from interested teams is "How many first rounders do you want? 2? How about 3? Whatever you want." When the Patriots are trying to make a trade, the reaction is "Gee, I don't know. Maybe I could give you a second round pick, but I'm not sure. I really need to talk to my manager. You know how it is." The Patriots have traded away some very good players over the past 20 years, but they never seem to get that big haul of draft picks in return that other teams get.