FOXBOROUGH - During the NFL’s scouting combine last month, Eliot Wolf insisted the Patriots were going to take the “best player available” in the upcoming draft.
Wolf, who was on hand for the team’s annual draft party for season ticket holders on Sunday, basically doubled-down on that narrative.
The Patriots executive vice president of player personnel told the audience they went a little too heavy on drafting so much for need last year, and they were pivoting to best player available.
Are fans supposed to believe him?
Are they supposed to believe if the Patriots still don’t have a left tackle to protect quarterback Drake Maye come the last week of April, they’re still going to take the best player available at No. 4, as opposed to LSU tackle Will Campbell?
Would they pass over Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter if he fell to them, and select Campbell? How about Colorado’s Travis Hunter, who could help any team at either cornerback or receiver?
Campbell over Hunter?
That’s the zillion dollar question facing the Patriots.
Taking Wolf at face value is fine, but it’s also fair to point out teams don’t usually telegraph their moves.
They might send out one message, and go in a completely different direction. Zig, then zag to try and keep the teams below them guessing.
Much like a Bill Belichick defense, it’s all about mystery and disguise.
That said, the preference for any team is to take the best player available. That’s no secret.
Whether it was Wolf, or Patriots coach Mike Vrabel, that’s been their stated goal.
Pulling it off is another matter, especially if a team has significant holes remaining, most notably at left tackle for the Patriots.
It’s certainly possible the Patriots will take the best player at No. 4, and whether that’s Carter or Hunter, check off the left tackle box with the next pick, even if that means moving back into the first round to get that player.
Again, Wolf did his best to make it sound like the Patriots would check off all of the boxes in terms of need prior to the draft, and even if that wasn’t the case, go with the best player available.
“We feel really excited about the some of the names that we’ve added. We still know there’s a lot of work to be done,” Wolf told the audience. “(We’ve had) a lot of defensive adds, a few offensive adds, we’re always looking. We’re still looking. The (Stefon) Diggs' visit is part of that.
“We’re just really excited to be able to go into the draft not forced to pick something.”
As in not forced to pick a left tackle. Or forced to pick what they would consider a difference-making receiver, although Hunter would satisfy that need.
It should be noted according to sources, the Patriots still like Campbell, short arms and all, and also believe Hunter is the best player in the draft at both cornerback and wide receiver.
Wolf was later pressed further about the Patriots decision-making in the upcoming draft. It was suggested since there were areas on offense not addressed, wouldn’t the braintrust feel compelled to draft for need?
“No, we don’t (feel compelled). The best player available is going to be the way it is,” he said. “Maybe we went for need a little bit too much last year. Obviously that culminated in us drafting Drake Maye, so it wasn’t all bad.
“But, just moving forward, it’s taking the best player, and understanding that we’ve filled a lot of needs already in free agency.”
It would appear the Patriots feel they’ve done enough in free agency - largely to fortify the defense - to have freedom in the draft.
Or, Wolf is simply bluffing, and we’re bound to see an offense-heavy draft.
Either way, the Patriots won’t leave without a left tackle. As presently constituted, they can’t ignore the position. Protecting Maye is too important.
Whether they get him in the first round, or beyond, it has to happen. It’s crazy to think otherwise.
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