Rookie defacto GM Eliot Wolf may have been played by the other more experienced GMs throughout the league.
They are sitting at #34, the 2nd pick on Day 2 of the draft. Their overwhelming desire to trade back, trying to get more draft capital, failed miserably. They did trade back and only lost 3 draft spots, going from #34 to #37 by trading with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers took uncoverable WR Ladd McConkey. The Trade didn’t net them any additional draft picks, only a bump up from 5th round #137 to 4th Round #110. According to the Jimmy Johnson Trade Value Chart, the Patriots made out just slightly better, but in reality, they were the big losers. Remember McConkey’s name as he becomes the Offensive Rookie of the Year catching passes from Justin Herbert.
Wolf and the Patriots nearly 30 people that were in the Draft Room, took Washington WR Ja’Lynn Polk with the #37. Polk, who runs a slow 4.52 40-yard dash, has the reputation of making the tough contested catch, but that is because he can’t get separation from DBs. If he can’t do that in college, how do you think he will do against better DBs in the pros? We have just replaced DeVante Parker with DeVante Parker. Patriots WR coach Tyler Hughes must have been banging the table to take his guy early, because he didn’t think he would last the entire 2nd round. Hughes was Washington’s Offensive QC Analyst coach last year. He had significant insight into Polk as a person, not only as a player. I have to believe Wolf and the brain trust had McConkey going later in the round and didn’t expect LA to take him.
Hindsight, or a true evaluation of the draft three years down the line will determine if they made a major mistake or not, but the initial reaction the Patriots 2nd day of the draft is very poor. It appears they didn’t address their biggest need and that was at Left Tackle. If they didn’t land McConkey, they should have addressed their Left Tackle deficiency. Chukwu Okorafor is an unknown, playing at Left Tackle. The Patriots didn’t pivot and trade up when they saw the run for OTs, particularly Left Tackles. I have read very good things about Caedan Wallace and have read that the Patriots coaches were enamored with him. Nobody expected him to be drafted at the top of Round 3. There was an unprecedented run for Offensive Linemen, with 25 taken in the first three rounds, the most in the history of the draft. Wallace, in an interview after his selection, stated he was “super confident” he could play Left Tackle and anywhere up and down the line.
By not making a trade where the team acquired more draft capital or they were unwilling to use their other draft picks to trade up, the GM failed to adjust to the run for Left Tackles. Kansas City was able to adjust and make a trade to leap ahead of the Patriots and take Kingsley Suamataia OT BYU. Suamataia had been linked to the Patriots for weeks.
The Packer Way
So far, Eliot Wolf’s first solo draft has been far from the Packer Way professed by his father Hall of Fame GM Ron Wolf. This has strictly been a need-based draft. However, I think they read the draft incorrectly and didn’t address their primary need, which should have been Left Tackle. If they were strictly going the Packer Way, they would have taken Cooper Dejean CB Iowa at #37. Pro Football Focus had him rated as their #8 overall player.
Ja’Lynn Polk and Caedan Wallace may turn out to be terrific players. I will have egg on my face, but I would gladly trade that embarrassment so that the individual players succeed and the team gets back to being competitive. I was wrong about Christian Barmore, who I thought was lazy on the video and games I saw him play. He is anything but lazy, and I hope he re-signs a rumored contract extension.
Players I Like on Day 3
Mason McCormick OL South Dakota State – Nasty is the word used to describe McCormick. The second description is versatile, as he can play anywhere. Last season he was their left tackle. The previous 4 years he started at Left Guard and gave up just 3 sacks in 4 years. McCormack worked out at OC at the East / West Shrine game and looked excellent. McCormack was a three-time Captain and lead the Jackrabbits to National FCS Champions in 2022 and 2023. His measurables are off the charts, standing 6’4” 309 lbs., he ran a 5.08 40-yard dash, 35.5” Vertical Jump and 32 Bench Press reps at 225 lbs. McCormack immediately would be a replacement for Cole Strange if he can’t get back from his knee injury and a future replacement for David Andrews at Center
Devontez Walker WR North Carolina – He is 6’2” 200 lbs and runs a 4.39 40-yard dash. Walker also happens to be Drake Mayes favorite target!
Christian Mahogany OL Boston College – The Road Grater from BC is just massive and tough to move. He has also worked out at Center.
Javon Foster OT Missouri – He was the 1st team OT in the SEC! If you are not sold on Caedan Wallace, then take Foster a perfect swing tackle. He can play both sides.
Issac Guerendo RB Louisville – He was a late bloomer but exploded his Senior season. He is also an athletic freak. Very fast.
Bub Means WR Pittsburgh – Pats Asst WR coach Tiguan Underwood was his coach last season. Weight is a concern. He blew up 15 lbs from the Combine to his Pro day.
Qwan’Tez Stiggers CB Toronto Argonauts – Didn’t play college football but was the Most Outstand Defensive Rookie in the CFL. Ran 4.47 at his Pro Day.
Tanner McLachlan TE Arizona – Patriots have been linked to him. He had 79 catches for 984 yards and 6 TDs in two seasons at Arizona. Former HS All Canadian Wide Receiver from Alberta.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
