Patriots GM Search: Bold Strategy or No Strategy; New Hire After NFL Draft?
FOXBORO — In immortal likeness of 2004’s “Dodgeball: a True Underdog Story,” the New England Patriots may be about to enact a “bold strategy.”
After “mutually and amicably parting ways” with coach Bill Belichick after 24 years, the Pats acted quickly in hiring inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo as their 15th head coach in franchise history.
However, the Patriots appear to be in no rush to complete the second half of their offseason strategic puzzle — to hire a general manger.
Cred: NFL.com
New England, per a Saturday morning ESPN report, is “in no rush to hire a general manager.” In fact, the team “might even wait until after the draft” to hire one.
With Belichick having held both the head coach position, as well as the the duties of de facto general manager, the logical next step for New England would be to establish a separate overseer of personnel (this time, with a general manager title) to complete the decree of team owner Robert Kraft of remaining “dedicated to doing the best we an to bring a winning team back."
However, New England’s search may not lead them beyond the brick, mortar and glass of the Gillette Stadium offices. On the heels of ESPN’s report, NBC Sports Boston’s Phil Perry added that New England might choose to distribute the duties among two top in-house candidates.
“They are not expected to bring in a new general manager,” Perry reported. “It’s anticipated by team sources that both Matt Groh and Eliot Wolf will remain with the Patriots and have prominent roles in personnel.”
Wolf, who Patriots Country listed as the top choice for the vacant seat, has long been considered a hot commodity among the candidate pool of potential team NFL franchise executives. The 41-year old has plenty of pedigree for the role, as the the son of Hall of Fame executive Ron Wolf, who built a Super Bowl champion for the Packers and contributed to others with the Raiders organization. Wolf has also spent time with both the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns, holding executive titles in both scouting and assistant general manager.
Since 2022, Wolf has served as the Patriots Director of Scouting — becoming the first to hold the title in the organization. He originally joined the team prior to the 2020 season, where he worked alongside Belichick in the team’s front office. He has handled scouting duties, as well as holding the role of player personnel consultant.
While Groh maintains a close relationship with Belichick — both through their time working together and through the latter’s friendship with his father and longtime NFL coach, Al — he has invested a great amount of work in the organization that he would seemingly want to see to fruition. As New England’s current director of player personnel, having just finished his 13th season with the club. He served as the team’s college scouting director in 2021, having spent the previous 10 years in New England's scouting department. His insight and influence helped lead to the Patriots drafting of potential franchise cornerstones defensive tackle Christian Barmore, running back Rhamondre Stevenson and cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
Though both candidates are worthy of consideration, the timing of New England’s search remains a bit puzzling. The team faces perhaps its most important offseason in over a quarter century. With approximately $70 million in projected salary cap space, the Pats have decisions to make on filling several positions with free agents — both internally and externally. Safety Kyle Dugger, tight end Hunter Henry and right tackle Mike Onwenu are just a few of the players the team would like to retain for Mayo’s first year at the helm.
Additionally, the Pats hold the No. 3 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. Considering their problems on offense this season, New England would likely be best served with a steady hand at the controls to guide them to a franchise-changing starting quarterback, a top-flight receiver or foundational offensive tackle.
Nonetheless, there is precedent for such a strategy. Several NFL teams, in similar situations, have kept the majority of their scouting staff — who are likely under contract and have been doing extensive research and scouting throughout the season — in place under a new regime until after the draft.
In the final analysis, New England’s search for a new general manger will apparently be a more lengthy process than that of selecting their new head coach. Despite answering the call for change on the bench, the Pats are reportedly keeping the status quo for the foreseeable future.
“Fluid situation with the Patriots front office, wrote The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. “Matt Groh and Eliot Wolf will continue to run the operation for now. The Patriots will likely interview additional candidates for leadership positions, but there’s no guarantee at the moment anyone will get the GM title.”
It is a new era in Foxboro. Yet, for the time being, a lot of the same pieces remain in place — and may be for quite some time.
A bold strategy, for sure.
Patriots Nation is about to see if it pays off for them.
