New England Patriots > Patriots Blog
(PHOTO: Eliot Wolf speaks to the media on Thursday April 18, 2024 (via Patriots on YouTube)) (Note: The microphones for the reporter questions wasn’t working properly, making it very difficult, if not impossible to hear some of the questions during this session. Anything questionable is marked ‘Inaudible’ and will be updated if I’m able to decipher it further.)
OPENING STATEMENT:
“Good morning, everyone. Wanted to thank you all for coming. It’s been a while since we last had some time together. Also wanted to thank the Krafts for their support. Thank Coach Mayo and his staff. Throughout this draft process it’s been great collaborating with them and working with them with private workouts and Zoom calls and getting their reports in and all those things. Wanted to thank the scouts for their tireless effort to get this draft class right over the last, call it, three years. Being away from their families, working on the road, digging out information, being passionate about what they do and also representing the Patriots in a professional manner. Also wanted to thank the families of the coaches and scouts for kind of putting up with us, putting up with these crazy schedules. The coaches had a week off at the end of March, and a lot of vacations were scheduled, and some of our coaches needed to leave their vacations to go to these pro days. So we definitely appreciate the families, and we’re going to try to get this thing right and get it back going. So with that being said, I would like to take today to talk about the draft and talk about the draft process. So if anyone has any questions, shoot.”
On the fact he’s the final decision maker, and that process given Kraft’s previous comments and the impact:
“It doesn’t really impact it much at all. We’re just kind of putting our heads down and working. Obviously, at the end of the day, somebody has to make the decision, but there’s a group of people that we’re relying on to help make these decisions. Obviously, Coach Mayo is heavily involved. The coaching staff, whatever coordinator on whatever side of the ball we pick for each pick, and the scouting department. So we’re just really kind of focused on the long term, focused on what’s right for the team.”
On if he feels on a trial with this team:
“I haven’t thought about it that way, that’s an interesting way to think about it. Since I’ve been given this opportunity to work with these people, I’ve just kind of put my head down and tried to do things that I feel like are the best for the Patriots.”
[Inaudible] – On if anything has changed on his role having the final say at #3:
“No, but again, if I’m the only person that wants a player, and everybody else in the building doesn’t want a player, I’m not crazy. We’re going to try and do what’s right.”
On how we would characterize trade discussions from other teams and how that might influence things:
“Yeah, so, ongoing. We’re open to anything. Moving up. Moving down. We’re open for business in the first round and in every round. We have some holes we feel like we need to fill in the draft and you know, we’re a draft and develop team. The more picks we have the better. But if there’s an opportunity to move up and strike if the board kind of recommends it, then we won’t be afraid to pull the trigger on that, either.”
On the fact there are six quarterbacks people are mentioning, and how they categorize them, and if he has them rated in terms of how they’re playing in 2024, or if he has them rated for beyond:
“I’ll address the second part of that first. It’s a long-term decision. I mean, I guess that’s the best way to characterize it. It’s a long-term decision. We look at upside, again, not just at the first pick, but at every pick. We look at upside in the draft and we try to build out. We have player positions where we think we need to supplement now, kind of plug-and-play type players, and we have other positions where we feel like we can draft and develop those people. As far as the way we have them rated, I’d prefer to not really get into that at this point, at quarterback or at any other position.”
On whether they stay at three or move back, if they feel like a quarterback has to be picked:
“No.”
On how comfortable they’d be taking one of the top three or four QBs:
“I think we’d be comfortable with it, yeah.”
[Inaudible] … If they feel like they can support a young quarterback:
“I do. I read a lot of that storyline. I’m not really sure what that means. We have a solid offensive line. We re-signed Mike Onwenu. We have David Andrews coming back. We have three rookies that we drafted last year that are developing. We signed Chukwuma] Okorafor from the Steelers. [We have] Hunter Henry, I mean, a good running game, a solid foundation, and a solid system in place with coach Van Pelt on the offense. So I definitely feel like we can support [a quarterback].”
[Inaudible] – On if he feels the QB at three should be a #3 pick:
“Yeah, I think so.”
On who he envisions at left tackle right now:
“I think if the season started today, which I get on the guys about using that phrase because that can sometimes lead to bad decisions. You know, if we had a game tomorrow, we don’t have a punt returner, stuff like that. If the season started tomorrow, I think it would be Okorafor, but that is probably more of a question for Coach Mayo.”
On him playing on that side:
“He played there in college, and so we went back and watched that film. Obviously, valued him when he was coming out and he’s an athletic big guy so we feel like he can make that transition back to playing on the left.”
On how much time they spend on working on war game scenarios, if another team calls with a trade [inaudible]:
“No, definitely. We spend time on all those scenarios. When you’re picking this high, fortunately, those teams that are interested are also doing that, so they’ll reach out earlier than when we’re on the clock so that makes it a little bit easier in this particular situation.”
On if any introductory conversations have taken place:
“Yeah, there have been conversations that have taken place.”
On what they do when they bring quarterbacks in for Top 30 visits:
“Get to know everyone. Kind of see how they react around the coaches, around the support staff. The scouting assistants are a big part of it, taking them around. You know, we do a medical. They meet with the coaching staff and they go through an install and a walkthrough and really just kind of get a feel for them, as much as they’re getting a feel for us in our building. So, it’s valuable. Obviously, everyone has the film from their careers that they can watch and evaluate, but getting them sort of in our situation and seeing how they react is a valuable part of the process.”
[Inaudible] On the importance of having consensus on a player:
“Yeah, I mean, it helps. Definitely.”
On if he feels it’s necessary:
“I mean, among the real true decision makers, I think it is, yes.”
On if he anticipates going to a smaller decision-making group:
“Again, picking so early, we can kind of work through the scenarios, like, not while the draft is going on. We’ve already had a lot of those conversations. As far as who will be involved, there’s a smaller group of people that we’ll talk to, both in the scouting side and the coaching side, and we’ll get together, Jerod and I, and kind of work through that, along with Matt Groh, whichever coordinator on whichever side of the ball. And that will happen at every pick. That’s not just the first pick.”
[Inaudible] On Jerod Mayo’s leadership style since players have returned:
“That’s an excellent question, and I’m really excited about Jerod interacting with the players. You guys all know Jerod, he has a great way about him. He’s very calm and easy but also intelligent and intentional with what he says. So it’s been really cool kind of seeing interact with the players and there’s a nice vibe in the building right now. Again, it’s Week 1 and nothing’s happened that’s bad yet.”
[Inaudible] – On if he feels the players are also excited:
“I think so. I think they are. I think it will be a good situation.”
On the Patriots problems drafting receivers and if he can pinpoint why that’s been the case compared to the Packers:
“That’s a good question. I’m not totally sure how to answer that. I think the Packers had good success. Ted Thompson was phenomenal at drafting receivers, identifying receivers in the second and third round. Hopefully, some of that rubs off on me, the things that I’ve learned from him. I don’t think there’s any one thing that I can point to about why it hasn’t worked here or why it worked better there. I don’t know how to answer that.”
On if they feel like they have anyone on the roster to fill the “X” role at receiver, or if that’s something they’re still looking to supplement:
“I think we have players that 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. But we certainly have good receivers that we’re excited about working with. K.J. Osborne can play all three positions. We have Kendrick Bourne coming back. Pop [Demario Douglas], JuJu [Smith-Schuster], I mean, the list goes on. We feel like we have NFL receivers.”
On all the different ages with the quarterbacks and how they look at that:
“We don’t really look at the age specifically, just more the skillset. All of these guys have been coached well in college, some longer than others, but we feel like every individual is different.”
On if he feels like they’re close to a consensus on the quarterbacks:
“We haven’t had that final conversation yet, but I do think there’s a general idea of how we feel about these players.”
[Inaudible] On quarterbacks showing him toughness and leadership, and how they see it:
“I think when you watch the film, you’re looking for it, and you see it. Obviously our scouts have been compiling information on these guys from their colleges for years, some of these guys from two different colleges. And that information is consistent and lines up, which always makes it easier. So we have that amount of information from the colleges, and then you can kind of see how they act, how their body language is on tape, and then when you bring them in, it’s really, do the people that are here, do the players that are here, kind of gravitate toward them while they’re walking around the building? What type of personality do they have? And I would say I’ve been impressed with all the quarterbacks that we’ve talked to in that regard this year.”
On what his perspective was on the receiver market [inaudible]
“Another team offered more money would be the main thing.”
On Mayo’s comments about ‘the bag’ and if ‘the bag’ has been brought to his desk to be considered:
“In terms of … ”
On if they’ve received a trade offer:
“No, not yet. No.”
On if it’s unusual it hasn’t happened yet:
“I don’t know. I mean, it can work both ways. I mean, they have up until we’re on the clock. So, I’ve seen it in both ways. I was actually at the BYU Pro Day a couple years ago when San Francisco made that trade to go up to three, and we were all there watching one of the quarterbacks, so it was kind of an interesting buzz to be at the pro day.”
[inaudible] … On how his philosophy at quarterback in what he’s looking for has changed since 2018:
“I don’t think it has. Every situation is unique. I mean, obviously Lamar Jackson is a Hall of Famer, we didn’t pick him. So that’s not a great look. But also, if we have picked Lamar Jackson at #1, we might have had to pack our bags at that point too. Nothing’s really changed. We’re still looking for the good player, and I think in this situation we’re going to have the support that’s needed for that quarterback if we draft one, whoever it is. We’re going to have a situation where they’re supported in every way possible to make them succeed.”
On if he feels people are underestimating the wide receiver group and the support on offense:
“I do, yes. I mean, we have NFL receivers. We have NFL tight ends. We have NFL running backs. We have NFL offensive linemen. 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.”
On the fact they’re open to trade for receiver and if that’s an avenue they’re still pursuing:
“You’re talking about trading for a receiver?
Yes:
“We’ve had conversations with teams about different scenarios, not just at receiver but at other positions. So that’s definitely something that we’d be open to.”
On why they signed Jacoby Brissett and what kind of role they envision him playing:
“Yeah, we signed Jacoby because he’s a good player. He’s a big, strong, relentless preparer in terms of his ability to take a game plan and apply it through the week to Sunday. He’s got a good arm. He’s big and strong and we feel like if we end up drafting a quarterback high, he is someone that can support that player and would be a positive influence on them while competing with them.”
On a player being a good player or a good athlete who happens to play football and if he feels there’s a difference between the two:
“A football player is more important. I think when you get a football player that also has those athletic skills, that’s kind of what we’re looking for. Will we take some chances on height, weight, speed in the later rounds? We might. It kind of just depends on how the board falls. I would say we’re always going to err on the side of having good football players but if you can get the good football player with those athletic scores that combine into what you’re looking for, that’s ideal.”
[Inaudible] – on J.J. McCarthy and Drake Maye
“I would say the best thing is kind of hearing what their teammates say about them. They’re both very well thought of by all their teammates. Obviously, Michigan has a ton of guys in the draft. North Carolina, not as many but they still have some significant guys and it’s just hearing how impressive they are as teammates, as people, as leaders. And again, I know you singled out two of them, I would say that’s been impressive. I think it’s a unique year, I’d say that’s been impressive with all six of these quarterbacks that are kind of the top guys.”
On Maye, McCarthy and Daniels, if he could say they’d be happy with any one of those guys and that he doesn’t feel they’d be settling:
“Yeah, I think that’s fair, and I think you could open it up to other names as well. I think it’s a really unique year.”
On at the league meeting where Mayo talked about Drake Maye’s floor and if he shares that same sentiment and his confidence in Van Pelt and Ben McAdoo and T.C. McCarthy to develop a QB:
“Sure, I don’t know what Jerod said, so I’m not sure … ”
On the fact that Mayo said you can’t just look at the ceiling but also the floor on him:
“Yeah, I think that’s every player. I think you have to weigh the good and the bad on every player, not just at quarterback. Based on what I’ve seen so far, which is not a lot, I have good confidence in Alex, Ben and T.C. They all have a nice, calm way about them. They all believe in establishing relationships with the players and they’ve all been successful in developing players. So that’s how I would answer that one.”
Here’s the full video via the team’s YouTube page:
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