In a news conference Monday, one day after firing rookie head coach Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced that executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf would remain for 2025.
The decision to retain Wolf, the de facto GM, and fire Mayo shows that Kraft believes Wolf doesn’t deserve as much blame as Mayo for New England’s dismal season. Kraft’s viewpoint is not supported by reality.
Here are four mistakes Wolf made in 2024 that highlight his role and led to a 4-13 season:
Drafting wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk
Selected to be a star at wide receiver, Polk is instead shaping up to be the team’s latest bust. The 22-year-old — chosen with the 37th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — had just 12 receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Notably, Wolf selected Polk after trading down in the second round, passing on Georgia wideout Ladd McConkey, who had 82 receptions for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns for the Los Angeles Chargers this season. In a 40-7 win over New England in Week 17, he had 94 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
