Let me add that I am the biggest Belichick/Kraft supporter out there. I know that the gap between Belichick, as both a coach and GM, and the next guy is huge. The record speaks for itself.
However, I wouldn't say I have "grass is greener" syndrome. I'm talking about WR and CB, not the overall picture. To focus on WR, I give you that the moves to get Moss and Welker in '07 were brilliant, purely brilliant. One of the greatest offenses in NFL history was assembled because of two guys that were easy to get when their stock was low. I don't think there's any question that the Patriots have gotten as much out of their WRs as any team over the last five years, or at least out of their pass catchers (TEs included.)
However, I stand by my point that the Patriots are terrible at evaluating talent in general at WR. This is probably because the offensive complexity, timing, and chemistry with Brady. Whatever the reason is they are not good at it.
Since 2000, when Belichick took over, the best WR they've drafted is Deion Branch. Deion Branch? I doubt there is another team in the NFL that has failed to draft any receivers in the last ten years that haven't had at least ONE 1000 yard season. Yes, I may be nitpicking, as he fell two yards short, but the point is that is their BEST WR draft pick.
If you look at the top 3 WR receivers in the Brady era, it's Moss, Welker, Branch. What about after that? Troy Brown was good for a few years but was a holdover from Parcells. David Givens? Stallworth who was okay for one year? Caldwell? Gaffney? We're literally talking about, in the last ten years for guys they've brought in:
-Two all-pro receivers (Moss, Welker)
-One borderline #1 receiver, who most would say is a #2 (Branch)
-A couple of decent, but not great #2 WRs (Stallworth, Gaffney). And just for a year or two at that
-A bunch of guys that would struggle to break the starting lineup anywhere else
All teams have plenty of busts at every position, but the list of failed experiments is very high:
-Chad Jackson
-Bethel Johnson
-Reche Caldwell
-Sam Aiken
-Taylor Price
-Brandon Tate
-Joey Galloway
-Torry Holt
-Chad Ochocinco
-And this is why I say if you add the summer of '12 to this list (which may turn out to be not so bad, but as of our knowledge at this moment, I see more bad talent evaluation.)
*-Brandon Lloyd- I hope he makes me eat my words.
The problem with these busts is that they aren't even decent enough to get on the field, let alone be playmakers. This entire list is just filled with horrendous results. Not guys who just didn't excel, but guys who couldn't even make the roster.
It would be foolish to say the overall production of the Patriots offense has failed expectations in any way, and it hasn't. But I can still make a point that it could be better, and as the whole Pats organization would say, there's always room for improvement.
