New England Patriots - NESN.com
Eliot Wolf doesn’t plan on targeting players who don’t fit Mike Vrabel’s vision.
But when it comes to final say, that belongs to the Patriots executive vice president of player personnel.
“Ultimately, it’s my final say,” Wolf told reporters at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, per a team-provided video.
Wolf, however, stressed it would be a collaborative process. He reiterated Vrabel’s comments from 24 hours earlier; the Patriots head coach said he wouldn’t have taken the job if he wasn’t satisfied with his control of the roster.
“Mike wouldn’t have taken this job — and this is something we talked about in the interview process — Mike wouldn’t have taken this job if we weren’t comfortable with each other,” Wolf said. “There’s not going to be Mike’s guys or Eliot’s guys. They’re going to be Patriots guys. And we’re excited to share the vision, to work together, to improve the roster.”
Wolf said there aren’t a lot of general managers or NFL executives who would “force players” onto the coaching staff. It wouldn’t create a strong partnership, nor strong on-field results.
“Certainly the best decisions are made together,” Wolf said.
“Together” in this case could very well include Ryan Cowden, vice president of player personnel, and John Stretcher, vice president of football operations and strategy. Wolf name-dropped both Cowden and Streicher, who came to New England with Vrabel this offseason after having experience together.
That means the responsibility is on Wolf to improve New England’s roster this season. And if not, perhaps he won’t have final say for much longer.
