PATRIOTS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF PLAYER PERSONNEL ELIOT WOLF
PRESS CONFERENCE
April 26, 2025
Q: Eliot, you're done with the bulk of the offseason. How much do you think you've improved this roster? Do you think it's in a position now to compete this year for a postseason spot?
EW: That's a good question. I think we'll be much more competitive this year. I don't like to put expectations on it, but I think we did a lot of things this offseason that were advantageous to us moving forward and we continue to improve the depth of the team and ignite competition here today.
Q: With Joshua Farmer and Bradyn Swinson, were those two players you were surprised that they fell and were available when you guys were up? It's been some of the chatter that they were steals, they were expected to go higher. I'm curious your thoughts on those two, and when you were able to get them in the draft?
EW: I think anytime you can get some depth on the defensive line, whether it's inside or outside, 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 trusted the board. Not that you asked this, but kind of part of the reason for all the trades, just moving up and down the board as we saw fit where the value was.
Q: What would you say the ultimate goal was here in this year's draft? How happy are you with the process and how it played out?
EW: I'll answer the second part of that first. I thought the process was phenomenal. The collaboration with the scouting staff, the coaching staff, nutrition, training, football operations, everyone, everything was great. The 30 visits were organized, Nancy [Meier] from the travel on, everything was really good. I think it all came to fruition this weekend, and I think we were really able to help the team out. As far as what we tried to accomplish, it was filling some of the holes that we had, and increasing the depth and competition on the roster with the right type of people.
Q: How did you guys do things better this year than you did last year or in years past?
EW: I just think the whole vision for the team was really good. Not that we didn't have that last year, or with Bill [Belichick] previously, but there was a lot of clear communication between [Mike] Vrabel and our staff. He was around a lot in our meetings. It was just a really good process. 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 and Coach Vrabel and Stretch [John Streicher] really came in and helped me organize this. I think we're going to have a productive group.
Q: In Bradyn Swinson's report in The Beast, there was a conversation on weaknesses that he butted heads with the coaching staff at various points. I'm curious, you don't have to say specifically with him, or you can if you want, but do you ask the player directly about that, or is that something you investigate with the coaching staff first, and if you feel comfortable with it, you're good?
EW: Yeah, I think we talked to a lot of different sources at these colleges. We talk to the player, we interview the player. When there's a situation like that, if it is a red flag, it's something that we'll bring up and 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. He was really getting after it and that was a good thing because there were some of those questions, perhaps, about him. I left out of there feeling really comfortable with him.
Q: Eliot, I was looking at prospect rankings and looking at Kobee Minor, the best I could see was Dane Brugler had him as the 127th best cornerback in the draft. What stood out for you about him, and why do you think there's a disconnect between your value and the outside value on him?
EW: Yeah, Kobee's a guy that our scouts that went into Memphis this year got on early. I think to answer your question, he was a double transfer guy. He started his career at Texas Tech and then played one year at Indiana and then actually transferred to Memphis this year. He transferred kind of late, so I don't know that he was necessarily on the radar early in the season for some people. Then he had a hamstring, so he came back from it and played well. The movement skills at practice, the ability to play the football in the air, his competitiveness, we brought him in for a pre-draft visit, a 30 visit, and he did a really nice job on that. He was a guy that we had some affinity for. Mr. Irrelevant, a pretty cool experience for him, but we were excited to be able to add him.
Q: Eliot, the quarterback position, obviously you hear people say most important in the sport, you got just two on the roster right now. What are your thoughts on a third guy? Might you be able to share a commitment you might have from someone at this point, undrafted maybe, if that's in the cards?
EW: Yeah, we're working on some undrafted situations at a lot of different positions right now and a quarterback will be part of that. My phone's buzzing down here. I think we're getting some texts. I'm assuming that's what it is. We're definitely expecting to add another quarterback.
Q: Eliot, you guys obviously did what you did in free agency and the Draft. Do you think you have your team right now, or do you have flexibility, financially, especially if somebody shakes loose at some point, like a major piece that you could add to this team?
EW: I think we have some flexibility. Richard Miller might tell me differently, but that's his job. We'll definitely look at different ways to improve the team, whether that's trade or someone that might become available later.
Q: Hi Eliot, a bit unusual seeing a long snapper as part of the draft class. The Patriots have a guy that's been here for a long time, Joe Cardona. Is there a question about Joe Cardona's long-term future with the team? What went into the decision to draft the long snapper?
EW: Julian Ashby was a player that we liked. We felt like he was the best long snapper in the draft. Through some of the conversations that we had, we felt like he might not be someone that would be available post-draft. Again, wanting to add some competition to the roster, we decided to pull the trigger there late.
Q: Eliot, on the kicker. Is there a strategy on when to go in there, like looking at other teams that possibly have a similar need there?
EW: Yeah, there was. I feel like the special teams community always thinks like 10 kickers are going to get drafted every year, and that's not the case. It's a key of balancing your value for the player. We decided to jump in there with Andres [Borregales] when we did and feel pretty comfortable with that. Another kicker went shortly thereafter. We felt like Andres was good value there, and he was a player that was ranked high on our board.
Q: I was curious what your outlook is at the nickel cornerback spot with Marcus Jones in the last year of his deal. Do you see Kobee Minor maybe factoring in there, and what is your perspective on the long term outlook at that spot?
EW: Yeah, Kobee Minor is a guy we feel like can play outside and inside. I feel like we have some other players on the roster that have that flexibility, with [Marcellas] Dial [Jr.], Isaiah Bolden, and in a certain matchup, certainly [Christian] Gonzalez can go in there. As you're I'm sure aware of, the big nickel position on early downs is something that we'll see from this defense.
