Patriots

Eliot Wolf, having led New England in the draft process, is seen as a clear favorite for the role.

Though Eliot Wolf appeared to be running the show for the Patriots through the momentous NFL Draft process, it’s apparently no guarantee that he’ll be given the full-time role as New England’s leading front office executive.

According Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the Patriots have formally begun the search for a general manager (or general manager-type position).

Given that Bill Belichick did not have a traditionally-titled general manager in his 24 seasons (and that the Krafts haven’t employed one since owning the team), the actual outcome could be the hiring of a de facto general manager: A leading executive who has final calls over football roster decisions while using a slightly different job title.

Wolf, the Patriots’ director of scouting, offered an answer during the rookie combine earlier in 2024 that illuminated his role at that point.

“It’s going to be a collaborative effort: Coach Mayo, myself, [director of player personnel] Matt Groh, the whole staff,” Wolf told reporters in February about the team’s draft process. “At the end of the day, somebody has to make that pick, and that’ll be myself.”

It was Wolf who seemed to be the person in charge during the draft in April, opting to keep New England’s pick (instead of trading) and select quarterback Drake Maye third overall.

Looking ahead, Wolf is the likely frontrunner, even as the Patriots pursue a wider search.

“I would be stunned if he doesn’t get the job,” said NBC Sports Boston reporter Phil Perry in a segment on Monday, adding that the “expectation” among league personnel is that Wolf will be elevated into the role.

Still, New England has to go through a formal process before potentially hiring Wolf into the new post.

Observing the NFL’s “Rooney Rule” necessitates that New England must interview at least two external minority job candidates prior to making a finalized choice.

Two potential outside candidates, Cardinals vice president of player personnel Quentin Harris and Trey Brown of the Bengals (a senior personnel director), have both reportedly already said no to the opening.