How one change can solve the Patriots' massive personnel problems

There's been a lot of talk about replacing the Patriots' new Head Coach, Jerod Mayo. Indeed, some things on the field should have been managed better. But, there is no doubt that no one, including Bill Belichick, Tom Landry, or even Vince Lombardi, would have done much better with this group of players on hand.

The problem is that the Patriots, as currently constituted, have too few top players to win many games. It is a personnel crisis. As commentator Bill Simmons has expressed, Eliot Wolf logged a failing grade in the 2024 offseason.

Indeed. The offseason was a disaster, and that's the area that needs addressing, even more than the coaching staff on the margins. Owner Robert Kraft has a clear objective right after the season ends, if not before, and we'll explore that here.

For the Patriots, "It's the personnel, st--id."

This title paraphrases a comment by a political operative about the key issue in the 1988 Presidential campaign. Talking about the economy, he used that phrase with the word "stupid." That's not a favorite here. Whatever. The gist of the matter for the Patriots is that the personnel operation was a dismal failure in the 2024 offseason, as Bill Simmons mentioned. He was spot on.

So, what is to be done?

When billionaires like Patriots' owner Robert Kraft fumble the proverbial ball, they don't like to admit it. It's all about their image, you know. So, how could an astute owner handle a situation where he's appointed a young executive who's not up to the task of running his operation?

He has options. He can do nothing and hope the executive gets up to speed quickly if he ever does. Or conversely, he can take appropriate action to save his floundering franchise, which with a top young quarterback, has loads of potential.

He has two primary options. One is to cut ties with that executive. That's not happening because he has to admit his own mistake. (And it's not a recommendation. "Firing" is not part of the vernacular here. So what's the other much more palatable option?

This other option requires thoughtfulness, innovation, and progressive thinking. Is this current ownership of the Patriots, which jettisoned Tom Brady, the best player in NFL history, sent Bill Belichick, widely considered the best coach in NFL history, packing, and hired two key employees who weren't up to the tasks assigned capable of doing so? We'll see. But here is the suggestion.

The Patriots should hire a President of Pro Football Operations to run personnel

The way open to the Patriots' organization to get things back on track is not rocket science, just logical thinking. Any astute NFL football observer, owner or otherwise, should be keenly aware that good football teams are built in the offseason, this season, every season.

Therefore, the executive in charge of that aspect of the club has to be a consensus NFL personnel person who unquestionably knows how to get the job done. Robert Kraft hired a neophyte who had never been an NFL general manager, Eliot Wolf as his Executive Vice President of Personnel Operations. As such, even the title suggests that he had his doubts. Why not the President of whatever?

Yet, in that equivocation by Mr. Kraft lies an opportunity for his redemption. Kraft doesn't have to, and it won't be suggested here that he let anyone "go" to better his organization. Conversely, he can implement a policy to solve the problem without replacing the current "Executive Vice President of Personnel Operations". How can he do that?

Kraft can just bring in a top personnel professional as President of Football Operations to oversee the whole kit and kaboodle. Eliot Wolf remains with his title, contact, and nice salary in place. But someone else is now in overall charge of the entire football operation, aka building a top competitive squad to get the Patriots back to the Super Bowl.

That's the solution for Robert Kraft, who botched the hiring of a critically important cog in his football operation. The opportunity is there without really hurting anyone (except maybe their pride). We'll see if the owner has the gumption to admit this mistake and move forward. It will be interesting to watch. But as Bill Simmons noted, absent Drake Maye, an F- isn't quite good enough.

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