New England Patriots
Wolf touched on a wide range of topics because the Patriots kick off their offseason.
Patriots government vice chairman of participant personnel Eliot Wolf addressed the media on Tuesday on the NFL Scouting mix in Indianapolis, pertaining to a wide range of topics because the group advances into the offseason.
Subjects ranged from how this 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl modified his notion on the place the Patriots are at, future plans for key gamers comparable to Stefon Diggs, and the way the Patriots are viewing the left-tackle spot.
The Patriots shall be conserving a watch out for expertise this week, and Wolf stated he’s keen to discover each avenue to enhance the group. Listed below are 5 takeaways from his look.
Will Campbell didn’t look the identical after damage.
It’s no secret that rookie left-tackle Will Campbell struggled all through the playoffs, and particularly within the Tremendous Bowl. Coach Mike Vrabel stated earlier this month that there aren’t any plans to maneuver Campbell to a special place.
Wolf stated he noticed a noticeable distinction in Campbell’s play after he returned from an MCL sprain that landed him on injured reserve for a number of weeks.
“Continuity is tremendously vital,” Wolf stated. “We had been really pretty wholesome on the offensive line this 12 months, and I felt like these guys had been in a position to gel and play effectively. And Will particularly, when he got here again from that damage, I personally didn’t see the identical degree of decrease physique energy that you just noticed earlier than the damage. I feel the movie would attest to that.
“He in all probability had three of his 4 worst video games within the playoffs,” Wolf added. “However earlier than that, I assumed Will performed very well all 12 months. I do know everybody talks concerning the arm size, however he has a set of expertise that allow him to play with that arm size.”
The Patriots hope that the younger offensive sort out, whom they took No. 4 general final 12 months, will present enchancment as he continues to develop.
“He’s actually fast out of his stance. He’s technically sound,” Wolf stated. “He’s including an increasing number of totally different go units to his instrument bag that he can use to fight totally different rushes. And once more, he’s 22 years outdated and we count on some enchancment out of him as effectively.”
Studies of curiosity in Rasheed Walker are ‘not true.’
Wolf addressed a report from NFL insider Jason La Canfora that stated the Patriots had been interested by including Inexperienced Bay left sort out Rasheed Walker.
“I noticed that report and it’s not true. He’s beneath contract with the Packers proper now and the 2 groups that had been linked to that exact participant each drafted left tackles within the first spherical final 12 months, so I’m unsure how correct that may be.”
Wolf talked about sort out depth as an space of want for the Patriots, as Vederian Lowe and Thayer Munford are set to hit free-agency. Morgan Moses is predicted to return, however at age 35 the Patriots might use depth behind him as effectively. Campbell’s playoff struggles have additionally raised questions.
No reply on Stefon Diggs but.
Wolf didn’t provide any particular particulars when requested about Stefon Diggs’s future with the group.
“I’m not going to get into any particular gamers as we speak,” Wolf stated. “There are specific conversations that we’re having, and we’ll see what occurs with everybody.”
Diggs simply completed the primary 12 months of a three-year contract. With two years left on his deal, Diggs stated that he hopes to return to the Patriots. He additionally acknowledged that it’s not completely as much as him whether or not he does or not. The Patriots will maintain seeking to enhance their roster with youthful, cheaper, gamers Vrabel stated lately.
Diggs, the primary Patriots receiver to file a 1,000-yard season since Julian Edelman, is scheduled to have a $26.5 million cap hit for subsequent season.
In keeping with Spotrac, Diggs’s 2026 cap hit would drop to $8 million if he’s lower or traded earlier than June 1st.
Patriots aren’t in rebuilding mode anymore.
Wolf stated he’s happy with the progress that the Patriots made, going from 4-13 final season to creating a shock Tremendous Bowl look earlier this month.
However, the Patriots nonetheless have various holes to deal with, together with large receiver, offensive sort out, and edge rusher.
“I don’t know that I’d name it a rebuild,” Wolf stated. “I feel we have now a pleasant core of gamers, whether or not that’s the core of veteran gamers that we depend on or a number of the youthful, up and coming gamers just like the rookies that had been talked about earlier.”
“So, once more, I simply suppose yearly is a chance. Yearly is totally different. Yearly is a chance in free company and the draft to enhance the roster. And it’s not simply free company within the draft. It’s trades, it’s waiver claims, it’s restricted free company, all these issues. We’re going to discover every thing that we are able to.”
New England would welcome Jaylinn Hawkins again.
Security Jaylinn Hawkins must weigh his choices this offseason. He stated after the Tremendous Bowl that he wish to return to the Patriots but in addition has to see what occurs within the free-agent market.
Wolf stated the Patriots are interested by retaining him. Hawkins had a team-high 4 interceptions final season and made 71 tackles together with 1.5 sacks and 6 go breakups.
“Clearly, [Jaylinn] Hawkins is a free agent and he’s earned the earned the chance to see what’s on the market,” Wolf stated. “However he’s actually somebody that we’d welcome again.”
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