{"id":52779,"date":"2024-04-18T11:39:31","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T15:39:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=52779"},"modified":"2024-04-19T21:45:00","modified_gmt":"2024-04-20T01:45:00","slug":"transcript-eliot-wolfs-pre-draft-press-conference-4-18-24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2024\/04\/18\/transcript-eliot-wolfs-pre-draft-press-conference-4-18-24\/","title":{"rendered":"TRANSCRIPT: Eliot Wolf’s Pre-Draft Press Conference 4\/18\/24"},"content":{"rendered":"

(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.\u00a0 Anything questionable is marked ‘Inaudible’ and will be updated if I’m able to decipher it further.)<\/em><\/p>\n

OPENING STATEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Good morning, everyone.\u00a0 Wanted to thank you all for coming.\u00a0 It’s been a while since we last had some time together.\u00a0 Also wanted to thank the Krafts for their support.\u00a0 Thank Coach Mayo and his staff.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Also wanted to thank the families of the coaches and scouts for kind of putting up with us, putting up with these crazy schedules.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 So we definitely appreciate the families, and we’re going to try to get this thing right and get it back going.\u00a0 So with that being said, I would like to take today to talk about the draft and talk about the draft process.\u00a0 So if anyone has any questions, shoot.”<\/p>\n

On the fact he’s the final decision maker, and that process given Kraft’s previous comments and the impact:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“It doesn’t really impact it much at all.\u00a0 We’re just kind of putting our heads down and working.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Obviously, Coach Mayo is heavily involved.\u00a0 The coaching staff, whatever coordinator on whatever side of the ball we pick for each pick, and the scouting department.\u00a0 So we’re just really kind of focused on the long term, focused on what’s right for the team.”<\/p>\n

On if he feels on a trial with this team:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I haven’t thought about it that way, that’s an interesting way to think about it.\u00a0 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.”<\/p>\n

[Inaudible] – On if anything has changed on his role having the final say at #3:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“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.\u00a0 We’re going to try and do what’s right.”<\/p>\n

On how we would characterize trade discussions from other teams and how that might influence things:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Yeah, so, ongoing.\u00a0 We’re open to anything.\u00a0 Moving up.\u00a0 Moving down.\u00a0 We’re open for business in the first round and in every round.\u00a0 We have some holes we feel like we need to fill in the draft and you know, we’re a draft and develop team.\u00a0 The more picks we have the better.\u00a0 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.”<\/p>\n

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:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I’ll address the second part of that first.\u00a0 It’s a long-term decision.\u00a0 I mean, I guess that’s the best way to characterize it.\u00a0 It’s a long-term decision.\u00a0 We look at upside, again, not just at the first pick, but at every pick.\u00a0 We look at upside in the draft and we try to build out.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.”<\/p>\n

On whether they stay at three or move back, if they feel like a quarterback has to be picked:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“No.”<\/p>\n

On how comfortable they’d be taking one of the top three or four QBs:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I think we’d be comfortable with it, yeah.”<\/p>\n

[Inaudible] … If they feel like they can support a young quarterback:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I do.\u00a0 I read a lot of that storyline.\u00a0 I’m not really sure what that means.\u00a0 We have a solid offensive line.\u00a0 We re-signed Mike Onwenu.\u00a0 We have David Andrews coming back.\u00a0 We have three rookies that we drafted last year that are developing.\u00a0 We signed\u00a0 Chukwuma] Okorafor from the Steelers.\u00a0 [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.\u00a0 So I definitely feel like we can support [a quarterback].”<\/p>\n

[Inaudible] – On if he feels the QB at three should be a #3 pick:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Yeah, I think so.”<\/p>\n

On who he envisions at left tackle right now:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“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.\u00a0 You know, if we had a game tomorrow, we don’t have a punt returner, stuff like that.\u00a0 If the season started tomorrow, I think it would be Okorafor, but that is probably more of a question for Coach Mayo.”<\/p>\n

On him playing on that side:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“He played there in college, and so we went back and watched that film.\u00a0 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.”<\/p>\n

On how much time they spend on working on war game scenarios, if another team calls with a trade [inaudible]:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“No, definitely.\u00a0 We spend time on all those scenarios.\u00a0 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.”<\/p>\n

On if any introductory conversations have taken place:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Yeah, there have been conversations that have taken place.”<\/p>\n

On what they do when they bring quarterbacks in for Top 30 visits:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Get to know everyone.\u00a0 Kind of see how they react around the coaches, around the support staff.\u00a0 The scouting assistants are a big part of it, taking them around.\u00a0 You know, we do a medical.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 So, it’s valuable.\u00a0 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.”<\/p>\n

[Inaudible] On the importance of having consensus on a player:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Yeah, I mean, it helps. Definitely.”<\/p>\n

On if he feels it’s necessary:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I mean, among the real true decision makers, I think it is, yes.”<\/p>\n

On if he anticipates going to a smaller decision-making group:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Again, picking so early, we can kind of work through the scenarios, like, not while the draft is going on.\u00a0 We’ve already had a lot of those conversations.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 And that will happen at every pick.\u00a0 That’s not just the first pick.”<\/p>\n

[Inaudible] On Jerod Mayo’s leadership style since players have returned:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“That’s an excellent question, and I’m really excited about Jerod interacting with the players.\u00a0 You guys all know Jerod, he has a great way about him.\u00a0 He’s very calm and easy but also intelligent and intentional with what he says.\u00a0 So it’s been really cool kind of seeing interact with the players and there’s a nice vibe in the building right now.\u00a0 Again, it’s Week 1 and nothing’s happened that’s bad yet.”<\/p>\n

[Inaudible] – On if he feels the players are also excited:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I think so.\u00a0 I think they are.\u00a0 I think it will be a good situation.”<\/p>\n

On the Patriots problems drafting receivers and if he can pinpoint why that’s been the case compared to the Packers:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“That’s a good question.\u00a0 I’m not totally sure how to answer that.\u00a0 I think the Packers had good success.\u00a0 Ted Thompson was phenomenal at drafting receivers, identifying receivers in the second and third round.\u00a0 Hopefully, some of that rubs off on me, the things that I’ve learned from him.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 I don’t know how to answer that.”<\/p>\n

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:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I think we have players that can line up and play at ‘X’.\u00a0 Do we have players that on a three by one can beat the backside coverage every single time?\u00a0 I’m not sure we have that just yet.\u00a0 But we certainly have good receivers that we’re excited about working with.\u00a0 K.J. Osborne can play all three positions.\u00a0 We have Kendrick Bourne coming back.\u00a0 Pop [Demario Douglas], JuJu [Smith-Schuster], I mean, the list goes on.\u00a0 We feel like we have NFL receivers.”<\/p>\n

On all the different ages with the quarterbacks and how they look at that:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“We don’t really look at the age specifically, just more the skillset.\u00a0 All of these guys have been coached well in college, some longer than others, but we feel like every individual is different.”<\/p>\n

On if he feels like they’re close to a consensus on the quarterbacks:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“We haven’t had that final conversation yet, but I do think there’s a general idea of how we feel about these players.”<\/p>\n

[Inaudible] On quarterbacks showing him toughness and leadership, and how they see it:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I think when you watch the film, you’re looking for it, and you see it.\u00a0 Obviously our scouts have been compiling information on these guys from their colleges for years, some of these guys from two different colleges.\u00a0 And that information is consistent and lines up, which always makes it easier.\u00a0 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?\u00a0 What type of personality do they have?\u00a0 And I would say I’ve been impressed with all the quarterbacks that we’ve talked to in that regard this year.”<\/p>\n

On what his perspective was on the receiver market [inaudible]<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Another team offered more money would be the main thing.”<\/p>\n

On Mayo’s comments about ‘the bag’ and if ‘the bag’ has been brought to his desk to be considered:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“In terms of … ”<\/p>\n

On if they’ve received a trade offer:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“No, not yet.\u00a0 No.”<\/p>\n

On if it’s unusual it hasn’t happened yet:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I don’t know.\u00a0 \u00a0I mean, it can work both ways.\u00a0 I mean, they have up until we’re on the clock.\u00a0 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.”<\/p>\n

[inaudible] … On how his philosophy at quarterback in what he’s looking for has changed since 2018:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I don’t think it has.\u00a0 Every situation is unique.\u00a0 I mean, obviously Lamar Jackson is a Hall of Famer, we didn’t pick him.\u00a0 So that’s not a great look.\u00a0 But also, if we have picked Lamar Jackson at #1, we might have had to pack our bags at that point too.\u00a0 Nothing’s really changed.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 We’re going to have a situation where they’re supported in every way possible to make them succeed.”<\/p>\n

On if he feels people are underestimating the wide receiver group and the support on offense:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I do, yes.\u00a0 I mean, we have NFL receivers. We have NFL tight ends.\u00a0 We have NFL running backs.\u00a0 We have NFL offensive linemen.\u00a0 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.”<\/p>\n

On the fact they’re open to trade for receiver and if that’s an avenue they’re still pursuing:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“You’re talking about trading for a receiver?<\/p>\n

Yes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“We’ve had conversations with teams about different scenarios, not just at receiver but at other positions.\u00a0 So that’s definitely something that we’d be open to.”<\/p>\n

On why they signed Jacoby Brissett and what kind of role they envision him playing:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Yeah, we signed Jacoby because he’s a good player.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 He’s got a good arm.\u00a0 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.”<\/p>\n

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:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“A football player is more important.\u00a0 I think when you get a football player that also has those athletic skills, that’s kind of what we’re looking for.\u00a0 Will we take some chances on height, weight, speed in the later rounds?\u00a0 We might.\u00a0 It kind of just depends on how the board falls.\u00a0 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.”<\/p>\n

[Inaudible] – on J.J. McCarthy and Drake Maye<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I would say the best thing is kind of hearing what their teammates say about them.\u00a0 They’re both very well thought of by all their teammates.\u00a0 Obviously, Michigan has a ton of guys in the draft.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 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.”<\/p>\n

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:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Yeah, I think that’s fair, and I think you could open it up to other names as well.\u00a0 I think it’s a really unique year.”<\/p>\n

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:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Sure, I don’t know what Jerod said, so I’m not sure … ”<\/p>\n

On the fact that Mayo said you can’t just look at the ceiling but also the floor on him:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Yeah, I think that’s every player.\u00a0 I think you have to weigh the good and the bad on every player, not just at quarterback.\u00a0 Based on what I’ve seen so far, which is not a lot, I have good confidence in Alex, Ben and T.C.\u00a0 They all have a nice, calm way about them.\u00a0 They all believe in establishing relationships with the players and they’ve all been successful in developing players.\u00a0 So that’s how I would answer that one.”<\/p>\n

Here’s the full video via the team’s YouTube page:<\/p>\n