Wolf: Pats still considering their options
The Patriots are still considering their options with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, according to de facto general manager Eliot Wolf.
Wolf, whose official title is “director of scouting,” was promoted to lead the front office after the Patriots parted ways with head coach Bill Belichick in January. Owner Robert Kraft left open the possibility the Patriots would evaluate Wolf’s role after the draft, however. So, this is an important event for Wolf and his staff.
Wolf met with reporters Thursday morning in the Patriots’ annual pre- draft press conference. Here are the top takeaways from what the former Packers and Browns executive had to say.
1. Comfortable taking QB at No. 3 overall
The Patriots should be looking to take their quarterback of the future in this year’s draft, whether that’s at No. 3 overall or after a trade down. The team traded Mac Jones to the Jaguars this offseason and added Jacoby Brissett to a QB depth chart that already included Bailey Zappe and Nathan Rourke.
Wolf spoke of it being a unique year because there are six top quarterbacks in the the 2024 draft class. Those players are USC’S
Caleb Williams (who is expected to be selected first overall by the Bears), LSU’S Jayden Daniels, UNC’S Drake Maye, Michigan’s J. J. Mccarthy, Oregon’s Bo Nix and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr.
The de facto GM said he’d be comfortable taking one of the top quarterbacks at No. 3 overall, but also said he doesn’t believe a quarterback has to be the team’s first-round pick. He also said he believes a quarterback worthy of the No. 3 overall pick will be there when the Patriots are selecting and that the team wouldn’t be settling on whoever drops to them.
2. ‘Open for business’ on potential trade
Wolf said that trade talks with other teams are “ongo
ing.” There should be plenty of interest in the No. 3 overall pick since Williams, Daniels, Maye and Mccarthy are so highly regarded. Teams picking behind the Patriots who are Qb-needy include the Giants, Vikings, Broncos and Raiders. He did say the Patriots have not received an offer for a “bag,” which head coach Jerod Mayo said at the NFL Annual Meeting would be necessary for the team to move down.
“We’re open to anything: moving up, moving down. We’re open for business in the first round and every round,” Wolf said. “We have some holes we feel like we can fill in the draft, and we’re drafting to develop a team. The more picks we have, the better. But if there’s an opportunity to move up and strike and the board recommends it, then we won’t be afraid to pull the trigger on that.”
3. Do the Patriots have a left tackle?
The Patriots had two needs at offensive tackle entering free agency, and one was filled by re- signing right tackle Mike Onwenu. The team also signed Chukwuma Okorafor, who played right tackle with the Steelers, and already had Calvin Anders, Vederian Lowe, Conor Mcdermott, Andrew Stueber and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. on the roster.
So, if the Patriots don’t add another starting option before Week 1, who would be aligned opposite Onwenu at left tackle?
“If the season started tomorrow, I think it would be Okorafor, but that is probably more of a question for Coach Mayo,” Wolf said.
“He played there in college, so we went back and watched that film. Obviously evaluated him when he was coming out. And he’s an athletic, big guy. So, we feel like he could make that transition back.”
If the Patriots take a QB at No. 3 overall, they could still take a tackle in the second or third round or after a trade up.
4. Void remains in receiver role
The Patriots have plenty of players who can play “Z” or slot receiver, but they don’t have an obvious “X” receiver on their roster after releasing Devante Parker.
Wolf doesn’t seem overly concerned about the Patriots’ wide receiver depth chart, but did acknowledge that a player who fits a certain role could still be added to the roster.
“I think we have players who can line up and play at “X.” Do we have players that on a three by one can beat the backside coverage every single time? I’m not sure we have that just yet,” Wolf said. “But we certainly have good receivers that we’re excited about working with. K. J. Osborn can play all three positions. We have Kendrick Bourne coming back, Pop ( Douglas), Juju (Smith- Schuster), the list goes on. We feel like we have NFL receivers.”
The Patriots have had trade conversations with other teams about receivers and other positions, according to Wolf.
5. Brissett’s role
Wolf addressed the Patriots’ decision to add Brissett to the QB room. Brissett was drafted by the Patriots in 2016 and worked under new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt during their time with the Browns.
“We signed Jacoby because he’s a good player. He’s big, strong, a relentless preparer in terms of his ability to take a game plan and apply it through the week to Sunday. He’s got a big arm. … We feel like if we end up drafting a quarterback high, he is someone who can support that player and would be a positive influence on them while competing with them.”
6. Collaborative process
Wolf said the fact he doesn’t officially hold the “general manager” title and that the team could hold a search for that position after the draft doesn’t have any impact on what the Patriots will do with the No. 3 overall pick.
“Obviously, at the end of the day, somebody has to make a decision,” Wolf said. “But there’s a group of people we’re relying on to make these decisions. Obviously, Coach (Jerod) Mayo is heavily involved, the coaching staff, whatever coordinator on whatever side of the ball for each pick and the scouting department.”
Wolf has final say, but he’s not going to be a dictator with his decision making.
“If I’m the only person in the building that wants a player and everybody else in the building doesn’t want a player, then I’m not crazy,” he said. “We’re going to try to do what’s right.”
Wolf said it’s necessary among the team’s “real true decision makers” to have a consensus with the No. 3 overall pick.
He also said he doesn’t feel like he’s “on trial” from ownership with the No. 3 overall pick.