Eliot Wolf makes Mike Vrabel admission after promising Patriots draft
New England Patriots lead personnel executive Eliot Wolf genuinely seemed surprised by how fluid the 2025 NFL draft process was under newly-hired head coach Mike Vrabel.
Wolf took over as the lead personnel decision-maker after the team parted ways with Bill Belichick last year. It was his first time in the role, and he was paired with a rookie coach in Jerod Mayo. The situation was significantly different this time around with a more experienced coach leading the charge.
Advertisement
Vrabel and vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden helped create a more "controlled" and "regimented" draft process, according to Wolf.
'I haven't ever done a process exactly like this—how regimented it is, how controlled it is. It's been really cool to see that come to fruition," Wolf said on Episode 1 of Forged in Foxborough, via CLNS' Taylor Kyles.
The Patriots filled key positions of need and raised the talent level at more unexpected positions, such as running back and safety. They improved along the offensive front, upgraded their receiving weapons, got stronger in the defensive trenches and added youth on special teams.
In Vrabel's first year with the Patriots, they put together one of the best offseasons on paper in recent memory. Time will tell if that success carries over on the football field.
Advertisement
The team's ability to win games will be the only real indicator of what the future holds in New England.
Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Eliot Wolf makes Mike Vrabel admission after promising Patriots draft
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Dallas Trade For Dak Backup Has Cowboys Backflipping With Joy
Dallas Trade For Dak Backup Has Cowboys Backflipping With Joy originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There's so much to process at the quarterback position that without at least confidence, even the most gifted physical traits will fall flat. Advertisement Joe Milton is working right now to marry the two: The physical and the mental. Insiders around The Star have consistently echoed one thing since OTAs and minicamp: Milton doesn't lack confidence. And considering what he's working with — a cannon arm, elite mobility, and a legitimate SEC résumé — he has every reason to believe he belongs. But what makes Milton's arrival in Dallas even more compelling is how it happened. This wasn't your standard late-round prospect dump. The New England Patriots reportedly gave Milton a choice — they asked him where he wanted to go. And he chose Dallas. Even more telling? The Patriots turned down better offers to send him to his preferred destination. A Day 3 pick with no starts, no contract guarantees — and they still did right by him. That should speak volumes about the kind of impression he left behind. Advertisement Maybe New England saw the writing on the wall. Drake Maye is the franchise investment. But the locker room can't be fooled by politics — and no team wants another Romo/Dak or RGIII/Cousins situation. The 6-6, 240-pound "football gymnast'' with the "85-Yard Bazooka Joe'' arm Milton wasn't better than Maye. But he was good enough, confident enough, interesting enough to warrant removing that risk altogether. As for Dallas? 'So excited about Joe,'' said Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer. I was excited about Joe before we got him … The work ethic is incredible. The talent speaks for itself … He's just an exciting young prospect that I think the sky's the limit for.' Advertisement What did Dallas do here? They just quietly added a developmental quarterback with Josh Allen-like traits, SEC experience, zero pressure, and a front-row seat behind one of the NFL's most respected leaders in Dak Prescott. Throw in weapons like CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and you might've just handed Milton the best possible growth environment in football. Related: Cowboys Joe Milton's 'Josh Allen Traits' Video Going Viral Related: Inside How Jerry Being 'Cheap' Makes Cowboys QB Trade Look Smart This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
NBC Sports
4 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Milton Williams fully participated in his first offseason with Patriots
During the offseason program, the players who don't show up get most of the attention. The players who fully participate get overlooked. For the Patriots, where newcomers like receiver Stefon Diggs and cornerback Carlton Davis generated headlines for not showing up for voluntary workouts, newly-signed defensive tackle Milton Williams did. Via Mike Reiss of the former Eagles defender was a full participant in the offseason program. Reiss adds this observation: 'And he seemed to embrace Vrabel's approach of being hardest on the team's best players.' While Vrabel and all coaches are prevented by the Collective Bargaining Agreement from saying or doing anything to suggest that the voluntary workouts aren't voluntary, this specific aspect of Vrabel's plan for coaching his team demonstrates how he feels about players choosing — and not choosing — to be there. Given that Vrabel likes to be hardest on the team's best players, it'll be interesting to see if players like Diggs and Davis have bought themselves an even more memorable experience in late July and August.
USA Today
15 hours ago
- USA Today
We hit 85 in our Raiders countdown to kickoff. Who wore it best and who's wearing it now
We hit 85 in our Raiders countdown to kickoff. Who wore it best and who's wearing it now We've reached 85 days until the Raiders season opener at Foxboro against the Patriots, With our countdown at 85 days we take a look at who currently dons the number in Silver & Black and who has brought it the most distinction. No. 85 Who's wearing it now: WR Ketron Jackson Jr Jackson is an undrafted rookie out of Baylor. The 6-2, 200-pound receiver put up 1099 and seven touchdowns over four seasons of college ball, first at Arkansas and then at Baylor. Who wore it best: DL Carleton Oats Oats joined the Raiders as a 21st round pick in 1964. He would play eight years with the Raiders (1965-72) apearing in 111 games withy 51 starts. He was part of the 1967 AFL Championship team that would lose to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl II. He was part of three other Raiders teams that made the AFL Championship game.
