Patriots reportedly set to add Alonzo Highsmith to front office
"One of the more respected evaluators around."
The new-look Patriots front office continues to take shape as the team navigates the post-Bill Belichick era.
Alonzo Highsmith is reportedly set to join the Patriots from the University of Miami, according to Chad Graff, Manny Navarro and Bruce Feldman of The Athletic. His exact title is yet to be determined, though NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport characterized it as “senior personnel executive.”
“One of the more respected evaluators around,” Rapoport added.
Highsmith, 58, has been the general manager of football operations for the University of Miami since 2022. The school has posted back-to-back top-10 recruiting classes during his tenure. At the NFL level, he has previous experience working in the front offices of the Browns, Seahawks, and Packers organizations.
As a player, Highsmith was a star at Miami (helping the school win the 1983 National Championship). He finished his time in college tied for the most career touchdowns (25) in Hurricanes history, and was the selected third overall by the Houston Oilers in the 1987 NFL Draft.
As Graff pointed out, Highsmith is the latest offseason addition with ties to the Packers. New offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, as well as Ben McAdoo (who is also reportedly joining New England’s staff as an offensive assistant) also have history in Green Bay.
“This is another clear sign that Eliot Wolf has a leading voice within the Patriots,” noted Graff. Wolf, whose father was a former general manager of the Packers, worked in Green Bay from 2004-2017 (culminating with being named director of football operations in 2016). The steady stream of Packers-related hires appears to indicate Wolf’s influence.
As Jerod Mayo takes control of on-field decisions in his role as head coach, Wolf could be emerging as the primary decider in front office matters.
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