What if Eliot Wolf followed Les Snead's lead with the Patriots?

When the Rams went into “win now mode,” they took a somewhat revolutionary or unconventional approach to secure a home Super Bowl victory. Instead of building a team through the draft, they simply went out and signed anyone they needed to get the job done.

Les Snead and Sean McVay deciding that draft capital was seriously overrated were lauded by pundits and derided by opposing fans. But it worked, so why shouldn’t the new Patriots’ GM follow their lead?  

The Rams signed a veteran left tackle then traded for a star defensive back, Matt Stafford and Odell Beckham Jr. If the new Patriots GM decides to follow their lead, they could do it in four easy steps. 

The Patriots might not even have to trade for a quarterback; they could obviously draft one. But they could pick up Russell Wilson, who the Broncos are set to release.  

Or they could trade for Jimmy Garoppolo. He’ll be suspended for the first two games of the season, but with so much turnover in Foxborough, the start of the season promises to be a little “experimental” anyway. And Jimmy G has been to three Super Bowls; Drake Maye cannot say that. His critics will say he can’t get the job done in the big games, but didn’t they say that about Matt Stafford in Detroit? 

What if Eliot Wolf followed Les Snead's lead with the Patriots?

Sign Tyron Smith in free agency 

One of the Rams' first signings to provide a foundation from which to build was the signing of Andrew Whitworth. The long-time Bengal signed for the Rams as a free agent in 2017, about two months after McVay arrived in L.A. 

Smith is 33, but his last contract was only worth $12 million, so he should be relatively good value. He is still regarded as one of the best-left tackles in the league; PFF gave him a grade of 83.8 in 2023. Smith has only conceded 11 penalties in his last four seasons. And he only allowed one sack in the 847 snaps he played last season! Trent Brown allowed three in 579 snaps. 

Trade for L’Jarius Sneed 

You'd imagine that the third overall pick in the 2024 draft and a future first-round pick should do it. If that seems too much, just remember this is a win-now plan. Winning a home Super Bowl put the Rams in the record books. But the following season was a grind.  

Sneed is just 27 and was franchised tagged by the Chiefs, but they permitted him to seek a trade. And Sneed, opposite Christian Gonzalez, could be even better than Sneed and McDuffie have been. 

Sneed would be the 2024 Patriots’ version of Jalen Ramsey. But he’s probably even better than Jalen Ramsey was when the Rams traded for him. The Rams sent two first-round draft picks. The Jaguars used those picks on K’Lavon Chaisson (a swing and a miss)) and Travis Etienne. One out of two is ok, right? 

Trade for Cooper Kupp 

The Rams have Puka Nacua now and are almost sure to find an equally impressive rookie receiver in the late rounds this year, too. There are stacked draft classes, and then there’s the 2024 receiver class.

De’Corian Clark is projected as an undrafted free agent, and he’s very Sean McVay. At 6 feet 3 inches tall and 215 lbs. He has echoes of Puka Nacua about him. And what do the Rams need? Well, after that track meet in Detroit in January, they need some help on defense, and he’s very Sean McVay. At 6 feet 3 inches tall and 215 lbs, he has echoes of Puka Nacua about him. And what do the Rams need? Well, after that track meet in Detroit in January,.

The Patriots’ defense was the only thing that worked last season. Kupp for Jonathan Jones and a third-round draft pick—who says no? 

Kupp might not be the human highlight reel Beckham was when the Rams plucked him from Cleveland, but he averages 12.2 yards per touch across his career. And he’s converted 8.8% of those touches into touchdowns. By way of comparison, Kendrick Bourne converted 7.4% of his to scores. 

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