Let's do the last 4 seasons. Where the Patriots were picking, what move would you make otherwise?
And please make this relative to what the rest of the league is doing. A lot of teams (Phins, Bills, etc) sink to the bottom which allows them to reset. I look at the Patriots drafting and I see misses. But it's always in context. Tyquan over Pickens was a big miss. The first 6 WRs before Pickens, tho, are doing nothing or already busted.
This is the problem. There's a lot of young talent right now, and let's face it they are mostly here to operate in Belichick's defense (bend don't break).
In 2000, the team got rid of a lot of young talent that went on to play well elsewhere (Terry Glenn, Greg Spires, Shawn Jefferson, Ben Coates) and after 2001 even more were let go (Bledsoe, Milloy, Woody).
The poor season lead to a top draft pick in Richard Seymour, who ended up as a HOFer. We haven't picked that high since 2001.
But look who came along for the ride from the Carroll years (most of them with only 3 or 4 years under their belt): McGinest, Bruschi, Law, Troy Brown, Kevin Faulk, Ted Johnson, Brandon Mitchell, Adam Vinatieri. This was the foundation for what came next.
No one would've thought McGinest would turn into what he did. In fact, McGinest was considered an Uche with less production by most Patriots fans in 1999. Faulk a complete waste of a draft pick. Troy Brown not even a top WR. Bruschi was a drinking game.
This is why I say there's a foundation here with many players who can be among the best in the league. Even on the OL with Onwenu and Brown. But mostly on D with Wise, White, Barmore, Uche, Dugger, Peppers, Gonzalez and the 3 Joneses.