Eliot Wolf sends Patriots fans into panic with simple answer about No. 3 pick

Because the Patriots haven't held a top-5 draft pick in nearly two decades and haven't needed a quarterback for that long either, fans are overwhelming in their desire to see the team take their next franchise player with their first-round selection. Most have already proclaimed it a quarterback or bust pick, regardless of the chatter suggesting a possible trade-down.

Jerod Mayo has insisted they are considering all options, from drafting a quarterback, a non-quarterback, or even trading the pick away, something a majority of fans don't want to see. But the continuous rumors claim it's a near guarantee New England stands pat at No. 3.

But rumors are just rumors, right? At least, that's the latest feeling based on Eliot Wolf's answers during Thursday's presser.

Reporters asked the unofficial general manager if he felt the Patriots' first-round pick had to be a quarterback. Wolf quickly and bluntly responded, "No," which quickly sent many fans into a panic.

Eliot Wolf's blunt response could have more than one meaning ahead of the draft

Although it's not the first time a member of the new staff has hinted at the possibility of a different player being taken with the selection, hearing the guy who's predominately in charge of roster decisions say it just a week before the draft is concerning to the 'quarterback or nothing' crowd.

The good thing is that his comment can be interpreted in a few ways that go beyond the simple yes/no answer.

It has remained a possibility throughout the offseason that the Patriots could send their first-rounder to another quarterback-needy team in exchange for an unreal trade package involving multiple first-round selections this year and next. Most have tossed it aside as not something the team would ever seriously consider, given their current roster state.

But it's fair to argue that a blockbuster package of picks and potentially a player would be hard to turn down for a team experiencing a complete rebuild, especially if it has multiple first-rounders.

On the other hand, it could all be the latest smoke from the Patriots in hopes of enticing teams to offer an unreal trade or get them off their heels for a specific player. We're at that point in the lead-up to the draft where that's more plausible than anything else, so it shouldn't be ruled out as a possibility.

No matter what the truth is, we'll have to wait until April 25 to see what the Patriots ultimately do. In the meantime, expect even more speculation and rumors that probably contain only 1% truth.

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