Back in 2019 the Patriots used a first round pick on N’Keal Harry.

It was the first wide receiver Bill Belichick and the Patriots used a first round pick on and he was supposed to be their 6-foot-4, 230 pound weapon that would keep defensive coordinators up at night.

That pick failed. Miserably. There’s a common misconception that Belichick simply neglects the offense and its personnel. That isn’t true. He simply sucks at evaluating skill position talent, and after years of failure in providing proper weapons in a league that is dominated by the passing game, the Patriots offense looks like it’s stuck in another century.

Just look at the last five years. In 2019 the Patriots used a first round pick on Harry and third round picks on Damien Harris and Yodny Cajuste. In 2020 Belichick selected Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene in the third round. The 2021 draft yielded Mac Jones and Rhamondre Stevenson. The 2022 draft produced Cole Strange, Tyquan Thornton and Pierre Strong.

How’d that work out? Harry is out of the league, Harris signed for what is the equivalent of the vet minimum with Buffalo while Cajuste wasn’t good enough to cut it on either the Patriots or Jets’ offensive lines, two of the worst units in the league.

How about Asiasi and Keene, the next coming of Gronk and Hernandez? Asiasi has hauled in a remarkable four catches in his NFL career to Keene’s three.

The jury is still out on Mac, and Rhamondre is clearly a hit. Strange returned to action last night and looked as rusty as an old nail you find on the side of the road. That wouldn’t be concerning if he played well last year, but he wasn’t good then, so what makes you think he’ll be better this time around?

Thornton is quickly approaching bust status and his void in the offense has been apparent the last few weeks while Strong has already been traded.

Well, if the draft has been good the free agent signings and trades must be better. Right?

The trade for Mohammad Sanu, one in which the Patriots gave up a second round pick, is one of the worst Belichick has ever made. Bill later gave Nelson Agholar and Jonnu Smith big money and traded a third round pick for DeVante Parker. This past offseason his big signing was no-knees Juju while fixing the offensive line by signing Calvin Anderson and Riley Reiff.

How do you properly evaluate Mac when Bill and the Patriots have done everything possible to stunt his development? When the 2021 draft happened and the quarterbacks were drafted to the Jaguars, Jets, 49ers, Bears and Patriots, did anyone think the Patriots would be one of the worst landing spots?

All those personnel whiffs — as well as the lost Patricia-Judge year — are why the Patriots are where they are. It’s why they fell a drive short against Philly in the opener and it’s why they lost to Miami last night. The offensive line — which had four of its five starters against the Dolphins — can’t run block or pass block. The weapons can’t make anyone miss after the tackle, which is kind of important when none of them can get behind the defense for explosive plays.

The only guy who actually has some juice — Demario Douglas — was benched after trying to make a play.

Last night was a great example of what could have been with the Patriots. Everyone knows Tua has his limitations. He was verging on bust status under Brian Flores.

Then what happened? Miami fired Flores — a defensive head coach — and hired that dork Mike McDaniel who, like him or hate him, can clearly scheme up an offense.

What else? They traded up to draft Jaylen Waddle and flipped a first round pick for Tyreek Hill. They shelled out big money for Terron Armstead. They got him a running game. They gave Tua every possible resource to be a successful NFL quarterback.

The Patriots simply haven’t done that, and it’s why they’re 0-2 and staring another lost season in the face.