FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots director of scouting Eliot Wolf stated Thursday that the group is “open for enterprise” to commerce the No. 3 decide in subsequent week’s 2024 NFL draft however can be snug staying put and choosing a quarterback from what he known as a “distinctive” class.
Wolf described commerce discussions with different groups as “ongoing” whereas including: “We have now some holes we really feel like we have to fill within the draft. We’re a draft-and-develop group; the extra picks we’ve got, the higher.”
Wolf, who has ultimate personnel say in his first 12 months of an elevated position with the franchise, acknowledged that the Patriots have but to obtain a commerce supply that might encourage them to deal the No. 3 decide.
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
The Patriots enter subsequent week’s draft with eight whole alternatives, headlined by the No. 3 decide and alternatives on the high of the second (No. 34) and third (68) rounds. They’ve single picks in Rounds 4, 5 and seven and two picks in Spherical 6.
Wolf, first-year head coach Jerod Mayo and the Patriots’ employees have spent appreciable time scouting quarterbacks, attending professional days for USC’s Caleb Williams, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy. The group subsequently hosted Daniels, Maye and McCarthy on visits at Gillette Stadium, together with Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
Wolf stated the group is not locked into choosing a quarterback, however when requested how snug he can be choosing one of many high three or 4 gamers on the place, he stated: “I feel we would be snug with it.”
Wolf stated listening to from teammates of high quarterbacks, which additionally contains Oregon’s Bo Nix, has significantly made an impression on him.
“Listening to how spectacular they’re as teammates, as folks, as leaders, I feel it is a distinctive 12 months. I might say that is been spectacular with all six of those quarterbacks which are form of the highest guys,” he stated.
Of the potential of swinging a commerce with the No. 3 decide, Wolf defined how the Patriots contemplate all eventualities and stated conversations have taken place.
“If you’re choosing this excessive, fortuitously, these groups which are are additionally doing that, in order that they’ll attain out sooner than they might after we’re on the clock. That makes it simpler on this explicit state of affairs,” he stated, including that extra commerce conversations have taken place with golf equipment about buying a receiver and gamers at different positions, which is “positively one thing we would be open to.”
If the Patriots stick at No. 3 and decide a quarterback, Wolf expressed confidence that the group has the infrastructure in place to assist him succeed. That features the signing of veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who may function a “optimistic affect” whereas additionally competing in opposition to a possible excessive draft decide.
“We be ok with the place we’re,” Wolf stated. “We really feel by free company, on the offensive aspect particularly, that we have been in a position to complement our roster correctly so we’re not having to draft for want as a lot.”
