We have known for at least a month that, while Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf presently has final say over personnel decisions and will be operating as New England’s de facto general manager through the upcoming draft, the team plans to conduct interviews for a high-ranking front office executive after the draft is over. Those interviews could be for a GM, a hire that would shunt Wolf aside or perhaps out of the organization entirely.
As our Sam Robinson noted in the article linked above, Wolf has overhauled the prospect evaluation system that the Pats used during Bill Belichick‘s lengthy tenure, and for New England to give Wolf the power to do so only to hire a different decision-maker post-draft would be somewhat surprising. Similarly, we had heard that the Patriots, with Wolf at the helm, were adopting a “Packer-based structure” wherein the personnel department’s input is valued more highly than the head coach’s. It was also reported that Wolf was heavily involved in the head coaching process this offseason, as well as the search to fill out new HC Jerod Mayo‘s staff.
All of that points to the Patriots ultimately giving Wolf the official GM title and having the new staffer work under him, especially since the club is entrusting Wolf with the crucial task of getting the 2024 draft right (the Pats have the No. 3 overall pick and therefore have a golden opportunity to select their next franchise quarterback). Owner Robert Kraft has received positive feedback on Wolf and recently said, “I’m excited with what I’ve seen so far, and we’ll evaluate after the draft and see how that’s gone and decide where we go from there.”
On the other hand, teams like the Jets, Texans, and Bills fired GMs after the draft in the late 2010s, and the Chiefs fired John Dorsey in the summer of 2017. So it is still feasible that the Patriots go in a different direction, with Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston — on a recent episode of Tyler Dunne’s Go Long podcast — confirming that New England will conduct GM interviews after the draft. In Perry’s view, “it’s wild” that the person who is in charge of leading the Pats through this key moment in franchise history is not guaranteed to be in the GM seat once the draft is over, but that is what he has been hearing for months.
If that were to happen, the team would need to comply with the Rooney Rule, which requires that two external minority candidates be interviewed for the GM post. Perry acknowledges that, as referenced above, the team could simply add a new executive to complement Wolf, rather than replace him. Still, given the apparent uncertainty of Wolf’s position, Dunne believes that the scion of Pro Football Hall of Fame exec Ron Wolf will indeed draft a quarterback with the No. 3 selection — which could be what Kraft wants — and will not trade out of the slot. Dunne also believes that UNC passer Drake Maye will be Wolf’s pick (the entire podcast episode merits a listen, particularly for Patriots fans).
Both Perry and former Vikings GM Rick Spielman (via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com) indicate that it would require an overpay to convince Wolf & Co. to deal the No. 3 pick rather than staying put and selecting a prospect like Maye, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, or Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. Perry suggests that if the Vikings — who are armed with both the Nos. 11 and 23 selections in 2024 and have been heavily connected to a trade-up endeavor — want New England’s pick, they would have to part with both of their 2024 first-rounders as well as their top choices in the 2025 and 2026 drafts. Spielman thinks three first-rounders and a second would be the “starting point” in negotiations, and that the Patriots could push for a top-tier player like receiever Justin Jefferson or left tackle Christian Darrisaw as part of the package.
Assuming the Vikings or any other club is unwilling to pay that type of price, then the Wolf-led Pats may, as has been expected, take the highest-rated QB remaining on their board once the Bears and Commanders have made their picks. There is still little clarity, though, as to who that player might be.
I think Reggie McKenzie would be the best Rooney Rule candidate. He was doing a decent job as GM with the Raiders until Gruden decided to throw him under the bus.
Idiotic rule
Nice chain on Kraft, must drive the ladies crazy at the strip mall massage parlors…
Why wait until after the draft.
New gm new front office new approach.
New gms like to bring in “their guys” and usually kick out old regime employees and players
Already been a lot of upheaval in NE this off season transitioning from Bellichek to Mayo. I’m sure Kraft wants some semblance of continuity for this draft.
Feels almost like a job interview for Wolf. If Kraft is pleased wolf will get GM. If he’s not they’ll search elsewhere.
“New gms like to bring in “their guys” and usually kick out old regime employees and players”
Agreed which is why they should done it before hiring a HC. The Patriots are headed for some really dark days. Even after free agency they still have arguably the worst group of talent at the skill positions.
One thing about a Bob Kraft is he really loves Bob Kraft.
It ironic because the Patriots are right back in the same position as when he bought them. Laughingstock of the league. He is more interested in promoting himself and making Patriot place more profitable. It is apparent he says one thing and does another.
It seems odd that someone would wait until they are an octogenarian to start a self promotion campaign…but I guess everyone needs a hobby.
The way I hear it, Robert Kraft is looking for (to interview her) Passion Flower Shirley, The Yokohama Butterfly
Kraft will make her GM
She will solve all problems and answer all questions for Patriot Fans
Make them #1 again (PAPA) Patriots are Great Again
Marvin Harrison Jr
I keep seeing “Packer style” attached as a descriptor to Wolf’s supposed preferences, but considering that he hasn’t a Packer for some time, it seems a bit dated to me. Perhaps by that, it is meant that it’s more similar to the Ron Wolf and/or Ted Thompson methods? In all likelihood, it just seems like a semi-accurate label to try and designate a new approach based on Wolf’s past ties.
Without specifics it’s pretty hard to tell if it even means anything. If Kraft is wanting to redo his front office after Wolf just supposedly overhauled it, it seems like that could create more dysfunction long term. Perhaps he wasn’t ready to redo the GM position by the time he let Belichick go, or perhaps he’s really that undecided right now. Either way, the short term ramifications seem pretty noticeable if they redo the front office before the start of this next year. For Pats’ fans’ sakes, Kraft should at least consider seeing how this plays out over the course of the year. You wouldn’t want to saddle a new front office with the last year’s hires and roster without any ability to do anything about it, at the very least.