TRANSCRIPT: Eliot Wolf Post Draft Press Conference 4/26

Here’s what Eliot Wolf had to say following the end of the draft Saturday night. Portions of the beginning were omitted as the broadcast was joined in progress:

On Joshua Farmer and Bradyn Swinson if he was surprised those two players fell and were available where they ended up since there’s been chatter they were steals:

“Yeah, I think any time you can get some depth on the defensive line, whether it’s inside or outside with both these guys, Swinson has some pass rush, Farmer can rush the passer and play the run. We were excited that those guys were still available, and we just kind of trusted the board. And that’s not that you asked this, but kind of part of the reason for all the trades, just kind of moving up and down the board as we saw fit where the value was.”

On what he would say was the ultimate goal was here in this year’s draft and how happy he is with the process and how it played out:

“I’ll answer the second part of that first. I thought the process was phenomenal. The collaboration with the scouting staff and the coaching staff, nutrition, training, football ops, just everyone. Everything was great. The 30 visits were organized. Nancy, from the travel on, everything was really good. And then I think it all came to fruition this weekend. I think we were really able to help the team out. As far as what we tried to accomplish, it was just filling some of the holes that we had and increasing the depth and competition on the roster with the right type of people.”

On how they did things better this year than they did last year or in years past:

“I just think the whole vision for the team was really good. Not that we didn’t have that last year or with Bill previously, but there was a lot of clear communication between Vrabel and our staff. He was around a lot in our meetings. It was just a really good process.”

“Then I would say, as the guys are still working on it right now, hopefully they’re closing some of these undrafted free agent deals out, and this is on me from last year, we just didn’t have an organized enough process. And Ryan Cowden, Coach Vrabel, and Stretch really came in and helped me organize this. And I think we’re going to have a productive group.”

On the fact in Bradyn Swinson report in The Beast, there was a conversation that he butted heads with the coaching staff at various points and if he asks a player directly about that, or if that’s something he investigates with the coaching staff first? And if he feels comfortable, they’re good?

“Yeah, I think we talk to a lot of different sources at these colleges, and we talk to the player, we interview the player. So when there’s a situation like that, if it is a red flag, it’s something that we’ll bring up and just try to see how they answer those things. With Bradyn, I had the opportunity, as everyone knows, when I went to practice at LSU this year, as we mentioned with Will Campbell, Bradyn was really impressive in practice. I mean, he was really getting after it, and that was a good thing because there were some of those questions, perhaps, about him. But I left out of there feeling really comfortable with him.”

On the fact that Kobe Minor was listed by Dane Brugler as the 127th best cornerback in the draft and what stood out to him about him:

“Yeah, Kobe is a guy that our scouts that went into Memphis this year got on early. And I think to answer your question, he was a double transfer guy. Started his career at Texas Tech and then played one year at Indiana and then actually transferred to Memphis this year, and he transferred kind of late. So I don’t know that he was necessarily on the radar early in the season for some people. And then he had a hamstring. So he came back from it and played well. But the movement skills at practice, the ability to play the football in the air, his competitiveness. We brought him in for a pre-draft 30 visit, and he did a really nice job on that. And so he was just a guy that we had some affinity for. And Mr. Irrelevant, pretty cool experience for him. But we were excited to be able to add him.”

On the quarterback position and the fact they only have two on the roster, and whether or not they potentially have a commitment from someone at this point undrafted:

“Yeah, we’re working on some undrafted situations at a lot of different positions right now, and a quarterback will be part of that. And so my phone’s buzzing down here. I think we’re getting some text. I’m assuming that’s what it is, but we’re definitely expecting to add another quarterback.”

On the moves they made in free agency and whether or not they have the flexibility financially if someone shakes loose at some point, to add a major piece that they could add to this team:

“I think we have some flexibility. Richard Miller might tell me differently, but that’s his job. But yeah, we’ll definitely look at different ways to improve the team, whether that’s trade or someone that might become available later.”

On the addition of a long-snapper and if there’s a question of Joe Cardona’s long-term future with the team and what went into that decision:

“Julian Ashby was a player that we liked. We felt like he was the best long snapper in the draft. And through some of the conversations that we had, we felt like he might not be someone that would be available post-draft. And just, again, wanting to add some competition to the roster, we decided to pull the trigger there late.”

On the kicker, and if there’s a strategy on when to go in there looking at maybe other teams that possibly have a similar need:

“Yeah, there was. I feel like the special teams community always thinks 10 kickers are going to get drafted every year, and that’s not the case. So it’s a key of balancing your value for the player. And we decided to jump in there with Andres when we did and feel pretty comfortable with that. Another kicker went shortly thereafter. But we felt like Andres was good value there, and he was a player that was ranked high on our board.”

On what the outlook is at the nickelback cornerback spot with for Marcus Jones, who is in the last year of his deal and whether or not Kobee Minor maybe factoring in there and what is his perspective on the long-term outlook at that spot:

“Kobe Minor is a guy we feel like can play outside and inside. And I feel like we have some other players on the roster that have that flexibility with Dial, Isaiah Bolden. And in certain matchups, certainly, [Christian] Gonzalez can go in there. And then, as you, I’m sure, are aware of, the big nickel position on early downs is something that we’ll see from this defense.”

(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.)

About Ian Logue

Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.

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