Should Eliot Wolf Be Patriots GM?

The New England Patriots have officially opened up the search for their next general manager, and the general consensus seems to be that ‘interim’ GM Eliot Wolf is in line to receive the permanent title. While the team is still required to interview minority candidates due to the Rooney rule, rumors have persisted that it is only a matter of time before Eliot Wolf is selected. This speculation has only been reinforced by the fact that multiple qualified candidates around the league have already declined to interview in New England. Now, it seems that the only question that remains is: Are they making the right decision? …..

Wolf during his time with Green Bay*

I truly do believe that Eliot Wolf IS the right man for the job. There are obviously a number of factors to consider when hiring a new general manager. Because decisions like this have so much nuance, everyone is bound to have a slightly different opinion. After all, it’s only the direction of the franchise on the line…. With all that said, allow me to explain why I believe Wolf is the right man for the job….

I’ve seen too many people make the argument that Wolf is a “nepo-baby” or (in other words) a guy who only has a job because his dad was a respected figure. This is simply not true. Wolf has been around the game of football for his entire life, and has spent years moving around with different front offices getting his feet wet in the business. While some make the argument that his genius father makes him the perfect candidate, I disagree. My confidence in Wolf has little to do with his last name. I value Wolf’s mind as an executive simply becuase of his real life experience working with NFL teams.

Much like the Patriots new Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt, Wolf has been around the block once or twice, and seen more than his fair share of both dysfunctional, and highly functioning organizations. Based on the selections made by Wolf in the 2024 NFL Draft, it is clear that Wolf’s philosophy aligns closely with that of the current Green Bay Packers front office. Wolf’s comments prior to the draft centered around the idea of drafting players based on talent and potential rather than scheme fit, which applies to everything the Patriots have done so far this offseason. Drafting a number of offensive weapons who can develop alongside Drake Maye is very reminiscent of what the Packers did with Jordan Love. While the Patriots may not have the flexibility to sit Maye as long as the Packers did Jordan Love, the strategy remains the same.

New Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt, Pictured with returning Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett

Flexibility is the name of the game when it comes to the Patriots’ new staff and front office. I personally don’t believe that the team knows how they are going to play yet. While some may see that as a reason to panic, for me, I think it was and is the smartest way they could have gone about this off-season. Having an Offensive Coordinator with such a diverse background should allow the team to evaluate the talent on the roster this summer, and build the offensive system around that talent. While this certainly isn’t a traditional approach, given the caliber of reset required on that side of the ball, I personally really like it.

Feel free to reach out or send me an email if you disagree. This is just my opinion after all.