DRAFT Eliot Wolf's pre-draft press conference 4/13

[Ian]

I wonder if he'll hire anyone to help out. I'd like to see some an extension or 2 and contract restructures but if he's the only guy, well, that's a problem.

Matt Groh I believe is the guy who helps with that.

 

[Ian]

Wolf on his own signed and drafted terrible athletes.

Any GM worth a damn can distinguish good from bad. Who is coaching or "system" is irrelevant.

I don’t know about that. Two thoughts: I doubt Mayo sat back and let Wolf pick every player without probably shooting down at least a couple he suggested. Wolf won’t ever throw him under the bus other than it leaking out there was some questions when it came to him and Mayo being on the same page.

Second, there’s a reason why new head coaches always want their own guy at GM, specifically for things like having a guy they’re on the same page with and understands exactly what they’re trying to do.

 

[Ross12]

I don’t know about that. Two thoughts: I doubt Mayo sat back and let Wolf pick every player without probably shooting down at least a couple he suggested. Wolf won’t ever throw him under the bus other than it leaking out there was some questions when it came to him and Mayo being on the same page.

Second, there’s a reason why new head coaches always want their own guy at GM, specifically for things like having a guy they’re on the same page with and understands exactly what they’re trying to do.

People crap on the Polk selection but the Pats WR coach was a former University of Washington staffer from the year prior who is known to have advocated for Polk. I am guessing they probably pulled for Polk to get drafted. Likely that there are other such instances in 2024.

 

[Wozzy]

I don’t know about that. Two thoughts: I doubt Mayo sat back and let Wolf pick every player without probably shooting down at least a couple he suggested. Wolf won’t ever throw him under the bus other than it leaking out there was some questions when it came to him and Mayo being on the same page.

Second, there’s a reason why new head coaches always want their own guy at GM, specifically for things like having a guy they’re on the same page with and understands exactly what they’re trying to do.

I doubt this, it was clear that the brass in the front office not only chose the players but also decided who played… we saw that in realtime with Drake Maye and forcing other rookies into the lineup despite them not standing out at practice.

Mayo was being held by the hand with one of the largest front office and coaching staffs in the league. He couldn’t determine which way the wind was blowing, there’s no way he had final say on personnel. I think he just showed up to coach.

 

[Ian]

I doubt this, it was clear that the brass in the front office not only chose the players but also decided who played… we saw that in realtime with Drake Maye and forcing other rookies into the lineup despite them not standing out at practice.

Mayo was being held by the hand with one of the largest front office and coaching staffs in the league. He couldn’t determine which way the wind was blowing, there’s no way he had final say on personnel. I think he just showed up to coach.

Don't forget, had Mayo been 11-3, I doubt the front office would have had much say, if any, in who they played later in the year. When you're 3-11 (or whatever they were), it's certainly a different story.

 

[Ian]

I doubt this, it was clear that the brass in the front office not only chose the players but also decided who played… we saw that in realtime with Drake Maye and forcing other rookies into the lineup despite them not standing out at practice.

Mayo was being held by the hand with one of the largest front office and coaching staffs in the league. He couldn’t determine which way the wind was blowing, there’s no way he had final say on personnel. I think he just showed up to coach.

Also, @Ross12 's point on Polk is spot on. And I'd be surprised if the coaches didn't have at least some influence over who they took. I listened / watched every Mayo interview that offseason leading up to the draft. He didn't seem like a guy who would just agree 100% with Wolf and not be involved, probably more than he should have been, with at least a couple of those decisions.