I can't say I agree with the notion the Patriots let players go to stock pile picks. Even in a perfectly executed scenario this philosophy should cease after Year 3 or 4. I.E. if you let players walk to stockpile picks, you should eventually have more picks than needs. Stockpiling infers a need for the quantity.
I'd also argue that NE rarely lets "quality" players hit the open market. Name 5 players in the last 5 years they have let walk, they drafted and went on to great success with their new team?
The actual fact is the Patriots do not draft well. As said earlier, they get the most from their picks. Bill is a masterful game planner and resource planner. He coaches to his and his player's strengths. He doesn't limit his playbook due to talent. He increases the playbook to include more plays to maximize his current roster.
Also, let's not fall into the notion that the Patriots let quality players walk and stockpile picks to be frugal. They typically are near the cap every year. They do go free agent shopping. They do sign FAs. If you are stockpiling picks, letting players walk and bumping up against the cap every year.... that tells me you are not a very good drafting team.
They need more picks to compensate for their drafting inaccuracy. They need to replace players they let walk because they didn't produce or become what they needed in 3 - 4 years. And they are actively filling holes in FA to bridge the gap between failed drafts, aging players and injuries.
Make no mistake about, Bill is the most valuable asset to his organization in the NFL. Without him, the Patriots are still living on Steve Grogan punch.
This will be fun to pick apart:
Here's who the Pats lost just last year as Free agents:
Jonathan Casillas
Akeem Ayers
Darrelle Revis- pretty good player
Shane Vereen- pretty good player
Vince Wilfork
Brandon Browner
So they DO play the game to get more draft picks. Its not about being frugal its about getting as many picks as you can to increase your odds of getting more good players on your roster
The year before they lost Aqib Talib and got a third rounder back. I think the comp pick rules are stupid, arbitrary, and against the spirit of free agency (you are free to sign or not sign whomever you can)
I disagree with your theory that Belichick needs more picks to compensate for bad drafting. He hasn't hit on some WR's and some OL but between Brady, Gronk, Collins, Hightower, Malcom Brown and all the all-Pros he's drafted and developed, the Pats are in great shape.
His shrewd trades, undrafted college free agent pickups and waiver claims he's made and the ability to fit them into his system makes him the best GM or one of the best GM's in the game. He's turned good or average players from other places ( like Miami) from Sammy Morris to Welker to Ninkovich to J Freeny into valuable players.
But make no mistake, Belichick treats the comp pick rule like any other NFL rule, it's there for his team to take advantage of.
