The Case Against Eliot Wolf

[Huckleberry1]

The alternative is that Wolf was so bad in his role that BB ignored his input. Either way the team needed to start over on the personnel side of the house.

It didn’t matter what his input was, Belichick had the final say, so he made the picks.

In his first draft Wolf got the Patriots their franchise QB, , when half this board, as well as writers for this site were insisting he should “ take the haul,” instead. Now they want to claim it was a “ sure thing,” when they were the ones arguing that only 30% of first round QB’s succeed. And they absolutely would be crushing him if Maye busted. So he gets zero credit for getting them the most important piece of their team, but he would get every ounce of blame if he was wrong.

And when you ask those who want Wolf gone who they would replace him with they have absolutely no idea, or they say stupid **** like “ Brad Holmes would be a great choice,” when he has built a serious contender in Detroit, and he isn’t going anywhere, nor is Howie Roseman. They are just throwing **** at the wall hoping something will stick.

 

[Huckleberry1]

The alternative is that Wolf was so bad in his role that BB ignored his input. Either way the team needed to start over on the personnel side of the house.

Or Wolf was suggesting players Belichick didn’t want, so he blew him off, which was always Belichick’s MO, and the reason he took N’ Keal Harry, when Deebo Samuel was sitting right there, and was very vocal about wanting to come to New England.

 

[Ray Ray 717]

Bill Belichick had final say on every pick, just as Eliot Wolf has final say on every pick now. And not one of the people bashing Wolf has claimed that Matt Groh was responsible for the 2024 draft. When you are in charge you take full responsibility for your decisions. The Belichick sycophants give Belichick full credit for every good pick, and Wokf full blame for any of his bad picks. It’s ********.

I have no doubt that when things go wrong at your jobs you guys blame your assistants.

Great post. The BB apologists have been out in full force lately. But even they cannot defend his historically bad drafting from 2017-2023.

 

[Love The Drake]

Sign me up for this mock draft.

Patriots land star WR in 3-round Christmas edition 2025 NFL mock draft

All the New England Patriots want for Christmas is a left tackle and a true No. 1 wide receiver to pair with burgeoning sta

patriotswire.usatoday.com

 

[Huckleberry1]

Sign me up for this mock draft.

Patriots land star WR in 3-round Christmas edition 2025 NFL mock draft

All the New England Patriots want for Christmas is a left tackle and a true No. 1 wide receiver to pair with burgeoning sta

patriotswire.usatoday.com

I would take it in a minute, but Josh Simmons is the best tackle in this class, and despite the injury he will go mid to late first, or early 2nd.

 

[Love The Drake]

I would take it in a minute, but Josh Simmons is the best tackle in this class, and despite the injury he will go mid to late first, or early 2nd.

Yeah it would be impossible to see him drop that far.
But this draft addresses our biggest needs,

 

[Stu Pidassle]

Or Wolf was suggesting players Belichick didn’t want, so he blew him off, which was always Belichick’s MO, and the reason he took N’ Keal Harry, when Deebo Samuel was sitting right there, and was very vocal about wanting to come to New England.

I agree that there is always risk making a change. Basing your opinion that Wolf is worth keeping on BB being incompetent doesn't make sense to me. Sorry

 

[Huckleberry1]

I agree that there is always risk making a change. Basing your opinion that Wolf is worth keeping on BB being incompetent doesn't make sense to me. Sorry

My views on keeping Wolf have nothing to do with Belichick’s competency. My issue in regard to the Belichick/Wolf debate is that Belichick’s sycophants want to pretend that Wolf was responsible for Belichick’s bad decisions, and Belichick responsible for the good ones. The guy in charge takes responsibility, period, regardless of what others did or did not say. And the same goes for Wolf, if his picks end up being busts he owns them, as he owns the Okafor debacle. He doesn’t get to pawn his bad decisions off on Matt Groh any more than Belichick should be allowed to pawn his off on Wolf.

My belief in Wolf is similar to Belichick. Like Belichick he was surrounded by football his entire life. His father was a HOF GM, and I believe that kind of background is invaluable. I think it’s as hard to find a really good young GM as it is a Franchise QB, and that he should be given a reasonable amount of time to turn around the mess he inherited, unfortunately for him he’ll have to show it with Kraft’s coach, but that’s life in the big leagues. Ithink he deserves 3-4 years to prove himself, and I’m willing to give him that time. That said I think he’s likely looking at a make or break offseason with the Krafts, and that will need to show itself on the field next year.

My last point is that I believe changing coaches and GM’s like underwear is the sign of a **** franchise, and if the Kraft’s get into that cycle the Patriots are totally ****ed. Stability pays off in sports.

 

[NFL Mystique]

The 49ers had two coaches go one and done. They got Shanahan and things turned around. Texans did the same thing.


Wanting stability isn't a reason to keep him. He should only be kept on if you 100% believe he can scout, draft, sign/trade.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

My views on keeping Wolf have nothing to do with Belichick’s competency. My issue in regard to the Belichick/Wolf debate is that Belichick’s sycophants want to pretend that Wolf was responsible for Belichick’s bad decisions, and Belichick responsible for the good ones. The guy in charge takes responsibility, period, regardless of what others did or did not say. And the same goes for Wolf, if his picks end up being busts he owns them, as he owns the Okafor debacle. He doesn’t get to pawn his bad decisions off on Matt Groh any more than Belichick should be allowed to pawn his off on Wolf.

My belief in Wolf is similar to Belichick. Like Belichick he was surrounded by football his entire life. His father was a HOF GM, and I believe that kind of background is invaluable. I think it’s as hard to find a really good young GM as it is a Franchise QB, and that he should be given a reasonable amount of time to turn around the mess he inherited, unfortunately for him he’ll have to show it with Kraft’s coach, but that’s life in the big leagues. Ithink he deserves 3-4 years to prove himself, and I’m willing to give him that time. That said I think he’s likely looking at a make or break offseason with the Krafts, and that will need to show itself on the field next year.

My last point is that I believe changing coaches and GM’s like underwear is the sign of a **** franchise, and if the Kraft’s get into that cycle the Patriots are totally ****ed. Stability pays off in sports.

FYI, accusing people who don't agree with you of being sycophants is not helpful. Personally, I have been consistent with my belief that things had gotten to the point where BB had to go. I also happen to think that simply removing BB was not enough to resolve the long standing issues with talent acquisition, Wolf and Groh should have been let go as well. Finding a senior football guy to come in to run the team and provide Wolf and Groh with oversight might be a good middle ground. In any path forward the challenge with be to find someone competent enough to make a difference willing to work with the pieces of the organization that will remain in place.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

My views on keeping Wolf have nothing to do with Belichick’s competency. My issue in regard to the Belichick/Wolf debate is that Belichick’s sycophants want to pretend that Wolf was responsible for Belichick’s bad decisions, and Belichick responsible for the good ones.

This is something you made up, and keep repeating. Who are these mysterious sycophants?

The guy in charge takes responsibility, period, regardless of what others did or did not say. And the same goes for Wolf, if his picks end up being busts he owns them, as he owns the Okafor debacle. He doesn’t get to pawn his bad decisions off on Matt Groh any more than Belichick should be allowed to pawn his off on Wolf.

New FAs Okorafor, Watts, Hawkins, Takitaki, and Osbourn all suck. Keeping Reagor, Wheatley, Uche, and Anderson shows that Wolf can not even evaluate the guys inhouse.

In the 2024 draft, R2 to R7 are near disasters. Trading McConkey for Polk and Baker is a candidate for one of the worse Patriots draft trades EVER. Making one of the Patriots worse draft trades EVER in Y1 tells the whole story on Wolf judging talent.

If Wolf is judged on his 2024 performance he should be fired on Black Monday. Only sentimentality would say keep him for one more year.

My belief in Wolf is similar to Belichick. Like Belichick he was surrounded by football his entire life. His father was a HOF GM, and I believe that kind of background is invaluable. I think it’s as hard to find a really good young GM as it is a Franchise QB, and that he should be given a reasonable amount of time to turn around the mess he inherited, unfortunately for him he’ll have to show it with Kraft’s coach, but that’s life in the big leagues. Ithink he deserves 3-4 years to prove himself, and I’m willing to give him that time. That said I think he’s likely looking at a make or break offseason with the Krafts, and that will need to show itself on the field next year.

The Commanders hired a new GM and went from 4 - 13 to 10 - 5 in one year, and you want to wait 3 - 4 years? LOL. That is how to bury a franchise for 5 years and lose Maye.

My last point is that I believe changing coaches and GM’s like underwear is the sign of a **** franchise, and if the Kraft’s get into that cycle the Patriots are totally ****ed. Stability pays off in sports.

The 49ers changed coaches two years in a row and then hired a great coach in Y3. The Texans did the same. For 20 years the Jets never fire their coach after 1 year and are always a dumpster fire. FACTS. You are clearly a sentimentality guy which is not helpful in football.

 

[mgteich]

I guess it is indeed instructive to compare 2023 and 2024 free agency and draft additions.

We should acknowledge that 2024 was a terrible free agent situation and excuse free agency. However, the draft was a disaster after the first pick, especially compare with 2023.
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BTW, the 2025 challenge will w=be the very weak draft. It is easy to say that we should get two first round picks and trade the rest into 2026. Unfortunately, we'd need trade partners willing to agree to trade.
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All that being said, I suspect that Kraft will keep Wolf, perhaps while adding a GM and firing a few coaches.

 

[Huckleberry1]

The 49ers had two coaches go one and done. They got Shanahan and things turned around. Texans did the same thing.


Wanting stability isn't a reason to keep him. He should only be kept on if you 100% believe he can scout, draft, sign/trade.

Other than Belichick which coaches scout, draft, and sign players?

 

[Huckleberry1]

FYI, accusing people who don't agree with you of being sycophants is not helpful. Personally, I have been consistent with my belief that things had gotten to the point where BB had to go. I also happen to think that simply removing BB was enough to resolve the long standing issues with talent acquisition, Wolf and Groh should have been let go as well. Finding a senior football guy to come in to run the team and provide Wolf and Groh with oversight might be a good middle ground. In any path forward the challenge with be to find someone competent enough to make a difference willing to work with the pieces of the organization that will remain in place.

I’m only referring to a few posters, and they are true sycophants, as they believe Belichicick was perfect, and call anyone who criticizes anything he did haters.”

 

[Clonamery]

I’m only referring to a few posters, and they are true sycophants, as they believe Belichicick was perfect, and call anyone who criticizes anything he did haters.”

That's like saying your grammar is perfect.

 

[Ray Ray 717]

I’m only referring to a few posters, and they are true sycophants, as they believe Belichicick was perfect, and call anyone who criticizes anything he did haters.”

Belichick walks on water to some here. Ignore the obsequious behavior.

 

[Zuma]

Wolf doesn’t have the GM title…it’s still VP of Personnel and he and other personnel types are no longer on Patriots.com (how long has that been?). Ownership doesn’t really need to fire Wolf…they can just hire a GM or the next HC could have that title as well. In RK’s mind, this type of move may have the optics of finally having a GM to move the team forward and not a screw up by him with the Wolf hire (which I’m not 100% sold on the hire as a failure yet).

 

[Since1960]

Bill Belichick was responsible for every draft pick prior to this draft. The narrative that Wolf was behind the picks is pure and utter ********.

I know full well that Couch B. was the “decider” prior to this year’s draft. I believe I made several references in the past regarding some of his picks, especially regarding the long list of 5’9” 2nd round cornerbacks that he developed a fondness for drafting over the years.

I also preceded my comment regarding Wolfe’s involvement with the 2022 draft with a “if” he had input into the draft, not that he was actually making the selections. I also understand and believe in giving people more than one chance. However, Wolfe was the “Mastermind” behind the 2023 draft and free agency acquisitions, and the Polk/Baker picks vs selecting McConkey remains in my mind simply unforgivable.

There are only so many bites at the apple where both a high first round pick, and plenty of “cash to burn” in free agency comes along. This year we have another such opportunity and I just don’t believe Wolfe is capable enough to make the type of player acquisitions during this year’s free agency and draft process that will make the much needed positive impact with our roster that is required.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I know full well that Couch B. was the “decider” prior to this year’s draft. I believe I made several references in the past regarding some of his picks, especially regarding the long list of 5’9” 2nd round cornerbacks that he developed a fondness for drafting over the years.

I also preceded my comment regarding Wolfe’s involvement with the 2022 draft with a “if” he had input into the draft, not that he was actually making the selections. I also understand and believe in giving people more than one chance. However, Wolfe was the “Mastermind” behind the 2023 draft and free agency acquisitions, and the Polk/Baker picks vs selecting McConkey remains in my mind simply unforgivable.

There are only so many bites at the apple where both a high first round pick, and plenty of “cash to burn” in free agency comes along. This year we have another such opportunity and I just don’t believe Wolfe is capable enough to make the type of player acquisitions during this year’s free agency and draft process that will make the much needed positive impact with our roster that is required.

Bill Belichick ran the 2023 draft, not Wolf. And Ladd McConkey is a slot receiver, and the Patriots already had 2 of those. So if not drafting a 3rd slot receiver is the litmus test to be a GM then no one can ever be the GM.

 

[Since1960]

Bill Belichick ran the 2023 draft, not Wolf. And Ladd McConkey is a slot receiver, and the Patriots already had 3 of those. So if not drafting a 3rd slot receiver is the litmus test to be a GM then no one can ever be the GM.

Seeing as how Wolfe picked Polk & Baker I figured you would have realized I mistakenly “fat fingered” the draft date year and I’m pretty sure you knew that. But I digress…

Here an excerpt from an NFL writers post regarding the *2024* draft:

“The Chargers had a hole in their wide receiver room after the offseason trade of Keenan Allen to Chicago and the release of Mike Williams.
McConkey brings versatility as an inside-outside wideout. His flexibility, coupled with excellent route-running ability and 4.39 40-yard-dash speed, makes him a menace for defensive backs. The 6-foot wideout might not have ideal size, but his quick release, smooth route running, ability to separate and stellar hands allow him to win all over the field.”

Whether McConkey is called an “X”, “Z”, or “slot” my guess is there isn't *anybody* who reports to work at Gillette Stadium including coaches, players (especially a rookie QB), and ownership, who doesn’t regret the trade that was made no matter who made it!