FOXBORO, Mass. — One week before the 2024 NFL Draft, scouting director and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf spent nearly 20 minutes behind a microphone at Gillette Stadium addressing the most pressing issues and questions facing the New England Patriots. Here’s what we learned from Wolf:
1. The Pats think they’re set up to support a rookie QB
Wolf said he’s heard the criticisms of the team’s roster. He is also familiar with the notion that New England should trade back from No. 3 for more picks to bolster the rest of the roster before adding a rookie quarterback. The idea is that a young QB might not be set up to succeed without sufficient weapons around him.
But Wolf doesn’t see it that way. He said the public is underestimating what a rookie quarterback would have to work with on the Patriots.
“We have NFL receivers, we have NFL tight ends, we have NFL running backs, we have NFL offensive linemen,” Wolf said. “We feel good about where we are, and we feel through free agency — on the offensive side, in particular — that we’ve been able to supplement our roster properly so we’re not having to draft for need as much offensively.”
Wolf added that the Patriots have had preliminary talks with other teams about potentially acquiring wide receivers via trade but stressed New England has a good enough setup to drop a rookie quarterback into.
“We’re going to have the support that’s needed for that quarterback — if we draft one,” Wolf said. “We’re going to have a situation where they’re supported in every way possible to make them succeed.”
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2. They feel good about the QBs at No. 3
While Wolf said the Patriots don’t feel they have to take a quarterback at No. 3, he said they’ll “be comfortable with” any of the top options that fall to them there, presumably Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye.
That’s not a shock. We’ve known for months that the Patriots want a quarterback at No. 3. But it’s still noteworthy that he said it on the record.
Wolf added that it’s a “unique” year with six quarterbacks graded near the top of the draft.
3. They’re doing their homework
As the Patriots have done their research on the top quarterbacks, Wolf has tried to gauge how each player is viewed by his teammates. During interviews at the combine and in prospect visits to Gillette Stadium this month, they have been asking the college teammates of Daniels, Maye and J.J. McCarthy for insight.
“The best thing is hearing what their teammates say about them,” Wolf said.
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4. Age doesn’t matter
There are quite a few differences between Daniels and Maye, the two quarterbacks the Patriots are most likely considering with the third pick. Their play style is different, their age is vastly different and their size is drastically different.
But one of those doesn’t matter all that much to the Patriots. Even though Daniels is one of the older quarterback prospects in the draft (he’ll turn 24 as a rookie) and Maye is one of the youngest (he’s 21), that doesn’t seem like a meaningful factor to the Patriots.
“We don’t really look at the age specifically,” Wolf said. “More the skill set.”
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5. They’re searching for consensus
Robert Kraft has made it clear that Wolf will have the final say in the draft room. He’s the point person for trade talks and general decision-making. But Wolf said if he’s alone in wanting to draft a certain player, he won’t do it.
“If I’m the only person that wants a player and everybody else in the building doesn’t want the player, I’m not crazy,” Wolf said. “We’re going to try to do what’s right.”
Wolf added that it’s important to try to have consensus from the top decision-makers on the most important calls, like how to use the No. 3 pick. He said the Patriots aren’t there yet, but he feels they’re close.
“We haven’t had that final conversation yet, but I do think there’s a general idea of how we feel about these players,” Wolf said.
6. They still need an outside WR
The Patriots have several wide receivers who are best utilized in the slot: Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Demario Douglas and even K.J. Osborn. So look for them to seek an outside receiver on Day 2 of the draft even if, as Wolf said, they have some current options to play on the outside.
The Patriots’ struggle to draft good wide receivers in the early rounds is well documented. But Wolf came up in Green Bay’s scouting department and watched the Packers have ample success in that area. He’s hoping that will carry over in New England.
“(Longtime Packers GM) Ted Thompson was phenomenal at identifying receivers in Rounds 2 and 3,” Wolf said. “Hopefully some of that rubbed off on me.”
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7. Still ‘open for business,’ but no trades yet
Jerod Mayo raised some eyebrows last month at the league meetings when he acknowledged the Patriots would consider trading back from No. 3 if they received “a bag” for an offer. Wolf confirmed the Patriots are “open for business” but said the kind of offer needed to move back has yet to come.
Part of the reason the Patriots signed Jacoby Brissett, Wolf admitted, is they think Brissett would be an ideal mentor for a rookie quarterback, someone who knows the Patriots’ new offense and can be a good teacher.
“We signed Jacoby because he’s a good player,” Wolf said. “He’s a big, strong, relentless preparer in terms of his ability to take the game plan and apply it through the week to Sunday. He’s got a good arm, big and strong. We feel like if we end up drafting a quarterback high, he is someone who can support that player and will be a positive influence on them while competing with them.”
9. Okorafor is the left tackle … for now
Wolf doesn’t like using the phrase, “If the season started today,” because, well, it doesn’t — and because the Patriots still have next week’s draft to upgrade their roster. But for now, Wolf confirmed, free-agent signee Chukwuma Okorafor would be the projected starter at left tackle. Though Okorafor has only played right tackle in the NFL, Wolf said the Patriots studied his tape from when he was a left tackle at Western Michigan.
Still, look for the Patriots to draft a left tackle in the second or third round.
(Photos: Melina Myers and Bob Donnan / USA Today)
