INDIANAPOLIS - Eliot Wolf took to the podium at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday, speaking with the media for the first time since last season, and providing his insight on what went wrong in 2024 and how he and the scouting department plan to improve the team with better results under a new coaching staff in 2025.

"It's been really cool and rewarding so far working with Coach Vrabel," said Wolf, who is attending his 31st combine overall and second with the Patriots. "He has a lot of great ideas and vision for the team, an effort that we're all working together."

Last year, the Patriots made a slam dunk selection at third overall in Drake Maye, but saw mixed results from their free agent and rookie classes that couldn't keep the Patriots from picking in the top five for a second year in a row.

Wolf took responsibility for the personnel misses in 2024.

"Ultimately, that roster was on me," said Wolf. "During this process last year just didn't get enough done. Certainly, the free agency class didn't live up to our expectations. You know, draft class, it's too soon to tell, but we were expecting a bigger impact from some of those guys, and we're still hopeful that they'll get to that point for us."

Wolf highlighted second-round pick Ja'Lynn Polk as one 2024 rookie that the team believes can get on track in 2025.

"[Polk] was a young player that came in, and he's mature, he's smart. I think organizationally, we maybe put too much on his plate early. I think that really kind of stunted his career a little bit, and he's aware of that," said Wolf. "We've talked about it, and he's going to continue to work hard and rehab and do the things that are necessary.

"Every rookie develops differently. You know, Caden [Wallace] was progressing then he got hurt. Layden [Robinson] probably played a little bit more than we had expected when we drafted him, and obviously, the receivers didn't have the production that we had hoped for. So, you know, when you do watch practice and you do talk to these guys, they're the right kind of people. They work hard, they are talented, and sometimes for whatever reason rookies just aren't ready to go. It's not a guarantee, but we're hopeful that they'll continue working and get to be productive."

With free agency just a couple of weeks away, the Patriots are flush with cap space and draft capital. But as more and more potential free agent targets re-sign with their teams or land elsewhere, even the best-laid plans at this point in the offseason will require contingencies.

"I think it's about pivoting," said Wolf, also adding the scouting department needs to be more thorough in their vetting processes. "If you don't get plan one, then you go for plan two, and if you don't get plan two, you go for plan three. And I just think it's about keeping your options open, whether it's free agency, trade, draft.

"There's only so many elite free agents and there's probably 27 teams looking at those guys. Certainly, we feel like we're a more attractive destination this year than we were last year. We're excited to fill the roster out and get to where we need to be so we can use [the fourth-overall] pick on the best player."

While the fourth overall selection will get most of the attention in the coming two months, Wolf sees a draft that has good depth in the mid-rounds, specifically in the defensive front seven and at the running back and tight end positions.

"I think this draft is probably a little meatier in the middle than it is at the top in a lot of ways," said Wolf, "There are some players not only up there, but throughout the rounds that can help us."

Front Seven Up First

The defensive linemen and linebackers took to the podiums on Wednesday, kicking off four straight days of interviews with the media. The two groups, which also include the defensive ends and edges, are among the deepest and most talented in this year's draft and there are plenty of players that could be intriguing fits for the Patriots defense.

Penn State defender Abdul Carter was among the most popular players to speak on Wednesday and confirmed that he had already met with head coach Mike Vrabel and the Pats. It might be a long shot for the Patriots to expect him to fall to fourth overall, many mock drafts project Carter to go first overall. Going to the Titans as the number one pick of 2025 is a goal that Carter confirmed he had in mind.

"I feel I'm the best player in the country," Carter told NBC Sports. "The best player should go number one."

If Carter is off the board, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham could be another player for the Pats to consider, albeit as an upfield interior player who thrives on disruption. Graham also confirmed he had met with Vrabel and the Pats, and could provide needed depth along the defensive line with Christian Barmore's uncertain status.

"I thought he was a cool guy," said Graham of his meeting with Vrabel and staff. "We were just talking, having a good conversation, I think it all went well. They were just asking me about me – what makes me, me. It was just a fluid conversation and getting to know each other, really."

On Monday, Vrabel told Patriots.com that getting in-person facetime with the prospects is the most valuable part of the combine. Another notable prospect that confirmed meeting with the Patriots was wrecking-ball edge player Nic Scourton from Texas A&M, an early lock for our 2025 Big Board,

Scourton is one of a handful of edge players behind Carter who should make an immediate impact for the NFL team that selects them, along with fellow Aggie Shemar Stewart and Ohio State's Jack Sawyer. All have different specialties and developing parts of their games, but whatever NFL teams are looking for this spring they should be able to find it among this year's defensive front prospects.

A potent duo from Georgia also were present on Wednesday, both already appearing to have the polish of NFL veterans. Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker will both be first-round picks and it's easy to see how they could slot into the Patriots defense. Williams registers more in the mold of a defensive end, while Walker is an off-the-ball chess piece who told reporters he can play just about any position behind the line of scrimmage.

Whether it's big space-eating defensive tackles, athletic off-the-ball linebackers or stout edge players, there's a lot to love about these first position groups to kick off the combine. Thursday night's on-field testing and measurements should only continue to push many of them up draft boards across the league.

DISCLAIMER: The views and thoughts expressed in this article are those of the writer and don't necessarily reflect those of the organization. Read Full Disclaimer