Buy low and sell high. It’s a winning formula in big business. And in the big business of the National Football League, nobody has followed that blueprint for success better than Bill Belichick.

The architect of the Patriots dynasty, Belichick and his staff have made trading commodities (i.e. players and picks) an art form. It’s only fitting, as Belichick was the central figure in the biggest trade in franchise history: the 2000 blockbuster that brought him to New England from New York.

For the record, the Patriots swapped the 16th overall pick in 2000 plus fourth- and seventh-rounders in 2001 for Belichick, a 2001 fifth-rounder, and a 2002 seventh-rounder. In the end, the Jets ended up with Shaun Ellis, the Patriots ended up with four Super Bowls.

That lopsided trade was the first of many transactions — draft picks, free agent signings, and, of course, trades — that have turned out in New England’s favor, with Belichick the common denominator in all of them.

Perhaps the best example of the buy-low, sell-high philosophy was Randy Moss. New England acquired the gifted receiver from the Raiders in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2007. Moss promptly set the NFL record for receiving TDs in a season with 23. He collected 259 catches with 50 TDs in three-plus seasons before he was shipped to the Vikings for a third-rounder.

Also in 2007, the Patriots landed Wes Welker for a pair of picks, and he grabbed 672 passes for nearly 7,500 yards and 37 TDs in six seasons. He had one decent year after leaving as a free agent in 2013.

Corey Dillon was acquired for a second-round pick in 2004 after a 541-yard season with the Bengals. The 30-year-old rumbled for 3,180 yards (including 1,635 his first year), 37 TDs, and a Super Bowl title. He was released shortly after the 2006 season and subsequently retired.

When it comes to selling high, the Patriots’ top trades include defensive lineman Richard Seymour (traded to the Raiders in September 2009 for a first-round pick) and guard Logan Mankins (traded to the Buccaneers for tight end Tim Wright and a fourth-rounder in August 2014).

Additionally, receiver Deion Branch was shipped to Seattle for a first-round pick in 2006. After three-plus middling/injury-riddled seasons with the Seahawks, he landed back in New England in 2010 for a fourth-round pick.

When it comes to the draft, Belichick loves to stockpile picks — especially middle- to late-rounders — and nobody has done better turning those selections into mega contributors.

The obvious place to start is with Tom Brady, whom the Patriots grabbed in the sixth round in 2000 with the 199th overall selection. The Patriots were targeting a QB with that pick but they didn’t just have eyes on Brady. Tim Rattay of Louisiana Tech was also in the mix.

“We started out a little bit on the Tim Rattay trail and [former quarterbacks coach] Dick Rehbein went down there and worked him out at Louisiana Tech,’’ Belichick said recently. “They ran a big spread offense and he had a lot of big numbers and all of that and we kind of liked him and thought that [he] might be a late-round pick. Then we got on Brady, so it was kind of Brady and Rattay in that [sixth round] . . . I guess we took the right one.’’

It was the first of many times Belichick identified a potential impact player and plucked him in a later round.

Belichick had a banner 2003 draft when he grabbed cornerback Asante Samuel (fourth round), center Dan Koppen (fifth), and linebacker Tully Banta-Cain (seventh). All were major contributors to Super Bowl winners.

Other examples include receiver David Givens (seventh round, 2002); quarterback Matt Cassel (seventh, 2005) kicker Stephen Gostkowski (fourth, 2006); special teams ace Matthew Slater (fifth, 2008); receiver Julian Edelman (seventh, 2009); offensive tackle Marcus Cannon (fifth, 2011); safety Nate Ebner (sixth, 2012); center Bryan Stork and running back James White (fourth, 2014); long snapper Joe Cardona (fifth, 2015); and tight end A.J. Derby (sixth, 2015).

The Patriots also have been adept at identifying free agents — particularly guys under the radar — they see playing a larger role on their team after disappointing runs during their previous stops.

There’s no greater example than former linebacker/defensive end Mike Vrabel. After four years and 51 games (with zero starts) in Pittsburgh, the former third-round pick signed on in New England.

Over the next eight seasons he became a stalwart and leader on some of the best Patriots defenses in history. He started 110 of his 125 games played and collected more than 600 tackles, 48 sacks, and 11 interceptions. For good measure, the part-time tight end added 12 career receptions good for 12 touchdowns — postseason included.

Vrabel’s also one of Belichick’s favorites. Last year, when Vrabel’s name came up in preparation for New England’s game in Houston (where Vrabel is now linebackers coach), Belichick smiled as he talked about what it was like to interact with him.

“He’d give me advice and I would tell him, ‘Mike, when you’re a coach and you’re calling the defenses, you should go ahead and do that. Here’s why we’re not going to do that. Or that’s a great idea. We can do that, that’s good, I’m glad you brought that up,’ ’’ Belichick said. “Mike is not afraid to make a suggestion, and we’ve had a lot of good discussions.’’

Rob Ninkovich is the modern-day Vrabel. After being waived four times by two franchises and playing in just eight games in three seasons (partly because of injuries), with six career tackles, he landed in Foxborough in 2009.

Ninkovich enters this season with 387 tackles, 42 sacks, 5 interceptions, and 14 fumble recoveries in seven years as a Patriot.

Inking Danny Woodhead hours after he was released by the Jets (who raved about him all camp long) was another stroke of genius. The little train that could scored 14 TDs in three years in New England.

Belichick also has signed his share of big-name free agents who have contributed to Super Bowl wins, including safety Rodney Harrison, running back Antowain Smith, cornerback Darrelle Revis, and linebackers Rosevelt Colvin and Roman Phifer.