TRANSCRIPT: Eliot Wolf on ‘Up & Adams’ with Kay Adams 3/31
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Here’s what New England Patriots Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf had to say during his interview with Kay Adams on Monday, March 31, 2025.
I like when the show starts on live television. ‘Don’t ask me that’ with Eliot Wolf. I want to get this right. Executive Vice President of Player Personnel. More importantly, if you could go back in time and add that second L to Eliot, would you?
“No, it was my mother’s choice, and I’m not going to go against her.”
Oh, my gosh. I love this. I love this. We were just talking about it’s the fact that it’s our rookie experience here. Neither of us have ever been to owner meetings, except I find that hard to believe with your dad. I’m sure you’ve been in that pool over here at the Breakers once or twice.
“Yeah, I was a family member that came here. About 25 years ago, I was here at the Breakers and just kind of taking on all the social events on the side.”
What does it feel like to be here? If you could describe maybe the out of 100 slices of pie, how much is business? How much is pleasure?
“It’s been all business so far. Very little pleasure. We’re all about the work here. I haven’t even seen the pool yet, which is unfortunate, but we’re here just kind of taking in all the meetings and trying to do what’s best for the league.”
What a big swing offseason. League schmink. Let’s talk about the Patriots here. You got the fourth overall pick. You reel in Stefon Diggs on the same day that I asked Drake Maye while he was golfing, I said, ‘Are you recruiting players?’ I asked him at the Super Bowl. What went into making that choice, and why do you think he’ll be such a good fit?
“Stefon is obviously someone that I’ve admired for a long time, playing for the Vikings when I was in Green Bay and being unable to really contain him too much and then when he was in Buffalo. So he became available. Some things came together. We met with him. It was a phenomenal dinner meeting with him. Then the next day at the facility.
Where did you guys go?
“We went to Davios in Patriot Place.”
I love a Davios.
“A little shout out to Davios.”
What was the order? What was his order? Do you remember?
“I don’t remember. No.”
What are you trying to pick up from him in a meeting like that? You’re saying you know what a great player he is, right? From an X’s and O’s perspective, of course, in the NFC North all that time. When you’re having a dinner, what kind of questions, what kind of vibe, what are the questions you’re asking yourself that you want answered when you’re leaving a dinner like that?
“Yeah, it was pretty casual. There weren’t any really specific questions. We got into what he was looking for, what we’re looking for. It’s really just about the fit and really seeing the authenticity of the player. He’s a great guy, and he knows what he wants, and he’s a competitor. So all those things fit together for us to make it happen.”
He’s a really intense player. Drake Maye, to me, highly competitive, but sort of chill. How will that work? What do you expect that dynamic to be?
“Yeah, I mean, Drake’s maybe chill off the field. On the field, he’s pretty locked in. So I think it’s going to be a really good marriage.”
Can I tell you that there were 72 players golfing in the NFLPA golf classic in Mayakoba last week, I was welcomed there to sort of watch everything going on. Drake Maye did not have a great golf day, and I’ve never seen a more competitive, dejected… He could not… We’re in Mayacoba, we’re in Mexico, everyone’s having a good time. He was not performing to his standard, and it was stunning how he stood out from everybody in that competitive way.
“Yeah, that surprises me to hear because I’ve heard he’s a really good golfer. I’ve never seen him play, but we’ll have to have a conversation about that.”
But the temperament. He’s a nut job. He’s a maniac.
“He’s definitely competitive. Anything. Ping-pong, darts, anything. He’s a real competitor.”
What’s sexier? Stefon Diggs with Travis Hunter or Christian Gonzalez with Travis Hunter?
“That’s a great question. And I think if he’s available, which is a huge question mark, that’ll be up to the coaching staff to determine where he’s going to fit in and also if we would even pick him.”
A lot of questions. Nothing surprising about there being lots of questions about the Patriots. You’re holding it close to the vest. I love that. A lot of discussion about even Stefon Diggs’ role. You bring him in, an elite player, and congratulations on that. I think it’s huge. I think it’s amazing. Where do you expect him to play? Slot?
“One of the things we like about Stefan, and even in Josh McDaniel’s offense, is just his versatility. He can play inside, he can play outside. He can move around. He’s smart. He can play all three spots. He’s competitive. He can beat press coverage. He beat off coverage. He’s good against zone. Again, that was just one of the things that his versatility was something that we looked to, to add him to the team.”
Versatility. Interesting. Maybe not so exclusive in the slot. Maybe versatility is a big thing with the Patriots if Travis Hunter is available there at 4. The drafting in Green Bay, does that do anything to you, Mr. What is it? Notre Dame? Let me get this right. A graduate from Notre Dame Academy, Wisconsin in 2000. Of course, you spent time with the Packers, your dad, the whole thing. Is it special?
“Yeah, I think it’s really cool. I think it’s the 100th draft, and it’s there in Green Bay. So I think it’s going to be great for the community. I don’t know if they’re going to have the hotel capacity, but I’m sure they’re going to work something out.”
Oh, no, I’m in a tent. You know how everybody lets you park on their lawns before games? I think they’re just like selling space…
“Yeah, that’s perfect.”
..And real estate for tents. And then they’ll give you beers. They’ll let you use their laundry machine.
“They’ll definitely give you beers.”
There’s nothing like the people of the Midwest. What about this fan base? These fans that they’ve known greatness for so long. It’s such a fascinating dynamic. You were around it. You know it. What do you want them to know as we sit here at the Breakers ahead of this next season?
“Yeah, I’m just really encouraged. I think Patriots fans are in store for some good things with Coach Vrabel and all the players that we’ve brought in, and we’re definitely getting this thing in the right direction.”
Speaking of intense, Vrabel, what’s the first thing he did when he got in that building? Back in that building, I should say.
“Yeah, it was really cool. He came over to the scouting area and was just watching film with us and meeting with the scouts and getting to know everyone. That’s a really big thing. Just culturally, that he’s wanting to see what everyone’s about and working together to get this thing righted.”
I got to tell you, I really wanted you all to have Ronnie Stanley. I was politicking. I was using all my little tricks. Were you guys interested in him?
“He was never actually available because he signed with Baltimore before it started.”
There we go.
“If he had become available on Monday, then he might have been someone that we would have talked to.”
I’m trying to think of what else we want to ask you, Eliot. You don’t want the other L. You answered that perfectly. We’ve got the fourth overall pick. We’re right here, and that’s great. Can we talk about the anti-hate pin?
“Yeah, the F-Cast.”
Yes. Why it’s important, why you’re wearing the pin? I have mine on.
“Yeah. So, this is Mr. Kraft’s initiative, and it’s just anti-hate, anti anti-antisemitism, and it’s really something that we support wholeheartedly.”
Amazing. We will be back after this. We’ve got more GMs popping by. You are a rookie. Is there hazing?
“There hasn’t been yet, but I was warned that there might be.”
Who do you think would be the instigator of that? Who’s the GM that would like…
“Yeah, just my… Probably John Schneider from the Seahawks.”
Really?
“I’ve known him for the longest, so I think he would instigate some stuff.”
That was a deep pull I was not expecting. We will be back here on Up and Adams after this. Fourth overall pick, we’ll see who they pick.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This transcript was done based on the available footage and is subject to typographical errors. If you spot anything, please let me know in the comments below.)
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