New England Patriots
“No matter approach we are able to probably enhance the workforce, we’re open to.”
With the beginning of the 2026 NFL Draft simply 10 days away, Patriots govt vp of participant personnel Eliot Wolf fielded a number of questions from the media on Monday concerning the state of the franchise and their plans at this juncture of the offseason.
Wolf touched on a number of subjects throughout his press convention from New England’s new workforce facility — the New Steadiness Athletics Heart — together with what the Patriots may goal with their 11 draft picks, Mike Vrabel’s standing, and different offseason developments.
Listed here are seven takeaways from Monday’s presser:
A commerce up?
Even with New England making a shock run to Tremendous Bowl LX in February, the Patriots nonetheless have a number of areas of their depth chart that would use an improve this offseason.
On the subject of their first-round decide (No. 31 total), the Patriots might shore up their offensive deal with depth, add an intriguing prospect at vast receiver or tight finish, or inject a starter on protection at line of defense, security, linebacker, or one other place.
Given the glut of picks that New England possesses, might Wolf and his workers package deal a few of that draft capital so as to transfer up?
“Yeah, I imply, we’re open to something. No matter approach we are able to probably enhance the workforce, we’re open to,” Wolf stated. “We’ve 11 picks. Most of these are sort of later within the draft, however we do have some flexibility with these 11 picks, and I feel it’ll rely somewhat bit on how the board falls.
“If we view that there’s a participant — whether or not he’s falling or there’s any person that we predict we have to go get, we’ll be open to these alternatives.”
After two straight seasons wherein New England had a top-five decide (No. 3 total in 2024 & No. 4 total in 2025), the workforce must wait for much longer to land on the clock.
Though the Patriots have developed a monitor report of buying and selling down on Draft Day, they’ve additionally reaped the advantages at instances when buying and selling up.
Through the 2012 NFL Draft, New England traded as much as choose each Chandler Jones (No. 21 total) and Dont’a Hightower (No. 25 total).
“Enterprise as regular” with Vrabel
Whereas many of the discourse relating to Vrabel over the previous week has revolved round off-the-field rumors and tabloid pictures, Wolf stated on Monday that New England’s head coach stays engaged in serving to him and his workers type by means of the a whole bunch of prospects who may very well be accessible when the Patriots land on the clock.
“Very concerned,” Wolf stated of Vrabel’s participation main as much as draft. “Enterprise as regular. He’s been in there with us, this spherical of conferences, in all probability somewhat bit greater than he was final yr. The teaching workers, he’s – that is me placing phrases in his mouth – in all probability extra comfy simply from the place issues stand from that standpoint.
“However he’s been in there. He’s been contributing. He’s watched a ton of the gamers. I feel he tries to look at each participant that we give every place coach — he tries to look at the entire, what we name, ‘the coach’s checklist.’ He has an opinion on these guys. It’s useful.”
Vrabel has been on the heart of controversy after pictures printed by the New York Publish’s gossip column, Web page Six, confirmed the Patriots head coach with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini at a resort in Sedona, Arizona.
“These pictures present a very harmless interplay and any suggestion in any other case is laughable,” Vrabel said of the photos in a press release to the New York Publish. “This doesn’t deserve any additional response.”
According to Katie Robertson of The New York Times, The Athletic is investigating the conduct of Russini in regard to these pictures with Vrabel, with the NFL insider not reporting on soccer whereas her protection is being reviewed.
Door stays open for an A.J. Brown commerce
One other day, one other query posed to Wolf and the Patriots a few potential commerce involving Eagles vast receiver A.J. Brown.
Whereas the writing stays on the wall that New England won’t pull off a trade for the All-Pro wideout until after June 1, Wolf once more didn’t rule out the potential for the Patriots bolstering this roster now that the free-agency feeding frenzy has quieted down.
“So far as gamers on different groups, once more, going to maintain the door open to something that we predict could enhance our roster, whether or not that’s with the participant you talked about or different gamers,” Wolf stated.
Strengths and weaknesses on this draft class
Given what number of kicks on the can that New England could have through the 2026 NFL Draft, Wolf was requested concerning the strengths and weaknesses on this present draft class.
Contemplating New England’s wants on the line of scrimmage, this crop of prospects ought to current loads of worth for the Patriots’ roster-building efforts.
“I feel I feel it’s a reasonably robust draft on the offensive and line of defense,” Wolf stated. “Secondary, possibly not as a lot. Receiver and tight finish are fairly good compared to a few of the latest years. So, yeah, we’re enthusiastic about a few of these alternatives, and there’s some matchups to some positions of want for us.”
Based mostly on Wolf’s feedback, don’t be stunned if New England targets linebackers with the workforce’s haul of Day 3 picks.
“Yeah, I feel it’s stable,” Wolf stated of the linebacker group on this draft class. “I feel it’s in all probability somewhat bit just like the best way it was final yr. Perhaps, for me no less than, I assumed it was going to be somewhat bit higher than possibly it’s that’s come out, however I do suppose it’s a very good place Day 3 from a depth standpoint. I feel there’s a number of gamers that you could possibly justify utilizing a day 3 pickup.”
Bolstering the sting
Whereas New England has been linked to each offensive tackles and vast receivers with the No. 31 decide, Wolf as soon as once more strengthened that the Patriots must bolster their pass-rushing corps over the subsequent week.
The Patriots signed Dre’Mont Jones through the offseason, however Ok’Lavon Chaisson additionally left in free company, signing a one-year contract with the Commanders.
Solely six groups recorded fewer sacks than the Patriots (35.0) through the 2025 season.
“Yeah, we might complement our room with some velocity. I feel I feel that’s evident,” Wolf stated. Dre’Mont and Harold [Landry] and Elijah [Ponder] and a few of the different guys now we have, all of them have their talent units. We wish to get quicker.
“, Dre’Mont’s a man that may play throughout the road, run video games. I imply, he can sneakily beat you with velocity, however that’s in all probability not his bread and butter. And that’s an space that we’re trying, once more, seeking to attempt to enhance the depth on the roster.”
Moses anticipated to play in 2026
One of many most important explanation why offensive deal with stays a high draft precedence for New England isn’t simply rooted within the combined outcomes put forth by Will Campbell in 2025.
It has to do with the way forward for New England’s beginning proper deal with, Morgan Moses. Whereas the veteran was a steadying presence on the sphere and a key locker-room voice final season, he turned 35 years previous in March.
Regardless of the wear and tear and tear and Moses’ earlier damage woes previous to his time in New England, Wolf stated on Monday that Moses is predicted to play in 2026.
“Sure. That’s our expectation,” Wolf stated. “I texted Morgan. It was in all probability nearer to the Mix. Simply saying hello. However, yeah, I do know Coach Vrabel’s involved with him. And, yeah, no indication that he’s seeking to transfer on, and I feel he’s enthusiastic about coming again up right here and getting began.”
Even with Moses again within the fold, New England could target an offensive tackle like Max Iheanachor within the first or second spherical of the draft so as to herald a prospect who might ultimately succeed Moses because the workforce’s beginning proper deal with in 2027 and past.
All quiet on Gonzalez contract talks
Though star cornerback Christian Gonzalez nonetheless has one yr left on his rookie contract in New England, the Patriots have the power to increase him this offseason to a brand new, long-term deal — fairly than kick the can down the street by solely exercising his fifth-year choice for the 2027 marketing campaign.
Gonzalez undoubtedly elements into New England’s long-term plans, particularly coming off a dominant efficiency in Tremendous Bowl LX.
However, thus far, Wolf has remained mum on any discuss of progress between the events.
A brand new contract for Gonzalez would undoubtedly make him one of many highest-paid cornerbacks within the NFL.
“No Gonzalez replace aside from I’ll proceed to publicly say that we wish Christian right here,” Wolf stated. “And once more, he’s below contract, so we might count on that.”
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