With the Patriots coming off back-to-back 4-13 seasons—the worst such stretch in franchise history—the pressure was on Eliot Wolf to improve this offseason. Even though you don't win the Super Bowl or make postseason runs in March and April, those are essential for building your team and bringing in guys who fit the program.
Fortunately for Wolf, between Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels, and the Patriots' free agency and rookie class, New England's football boss may have saved his job.
For now, at least.
Eliot Wolf loosened the pressure a bit with a formidable offseason
Wolf's free-agency focus was on retooling New England's defense, and he was able to do just that while, while adding quality free agents such as Carlton Davis III, Milton Williams, and Harold Landry III. The grand finale was getting Drake Maye, the wide receiver help he needed with the signing of Stefon Diggs.
Sometimes teams need to overspend when rebuilding, but the Patriots had the salary cap space to go on a free-agency shopping spree. Wolf couldn't afford to sit back and let the rest of the league continue to get better.
The tell-all move to me was swooping in for Williams at the last second. The edge rusher appeared all set to sign with Carolina before Wolf came knocking with a bigger offer (four years, $104 million). That showed me a lot.
The Patriots GM further secured his job by passing the draft test this year
The offseason doesn't stop with free agency. Great teams are generally built for the draft, and being the son of legendary Packers' GM Ron Wolf, Eliot Wolf knows that.
The Patriots could not afford to whiff in the draft, and they didn't. NBC Sports even gave New England an A-.
The Patriots secured offensive line help by taking left tackle Will Campbell with the fourth overall pick and Georgia center Jared Wilson in the third round. They got a second-round steal by snatching Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson in the second round. Can wide receiver Kyle Williams finally overturn the curse of recent wide receiver draft busts?
Wolf gave his defense more draft help, including another steal in Florida State defensive tackle Josh Farmer. The Patriots' defense has the potential to be lethal in 2025, and that will keep the team in most of its games.
If everything pans out this season and the Patriots can make a playoff run, Wolf will certainly have accelerated the process with the work he did this offseason. And perhaps another move or two is on the horizon between now and training camp.