Eliot Wolf says 2024 Patriots will not be tanking this season
"I think tanking cheats the game."
The 2024 Patriots are staring at an uphill climb this fall.
Even with the promise that Drake Maye offers as a potential franchise QB, New England is still expected to be years away from contending in the AFC — especially given the lack of star talent surrounding the quarterback position.
Given that the 2024 season might be another rebuilding year in Foxborough, could New England conceivably wave the white flag early on in search of a top-three pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft?
Granted, New England might already be in the running for a top spot on the 2025 draft leaderboard given their evident shortcomings. But Patriots Executive Vice President of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf could accelerate the team’s odds of landing a top pick by trading away more assets at the trade deadline or keeping Maye on the sideline.
Speaking to Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald, Wolf pushed back against any notion that the Patriots would willingly tank this season in hopes of getting a blue-chip prospect.
“I think tanking cheats the game. (We) would never get in a situation where we think that’s the right way to go,” Wolf told Callahan. “That’s not what the NFL is all about. That’s not what pro football is all about, and that’s not what we’re gonna be about.”
The Patriots are already projected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season, with five of The Boston Globe’s seven NFL writers tabbing New England to finish with four wins or fewer in 2024.
A top-five pick could give New England a franchise left tackle like Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. or LSU’s Will Campbell, an edge rusher like James Pearce Jr., a unique cornerback/receiver like Colorado’s Travis Hunter, or the ability to restock with more picks by trading down.
Keeping Maye on the sideline this season might be a proactive move for a Patriots team that isn’t going to be contending in the immediate future. But Wolf stressed to Callahan that relegating Maye to a backup role out of the gate in 2024 does not mean that his development will stagnate.
“We do have confidence in Drake,” Wolf told Callahan. “It’s not like we’re just going to let him collect dust for the year. He’s going to be out there in practice taking reps, he’s going to take some reps with the (starters), he’s going to take some reps on the scout team and continue to progress and develop in that regard.”
As far as when Maye might step in and replace veteran Jacoby Brissett as the team’s starting QB?
“Obviously, it’s going to depend on how the team’s doing, and if Jacoby’s lighting it up, the chances of Drake getting in there are going to be lessened,” Wolf explained.
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