Lead
On Tuesday morning at the NFL Scouting Combine, Patriots EVP Eliot Wolf addressed reporters, offering a wide-ranging set of remarks about the team’s 2025 draft class, roster priorities and offseason approach. Wolf opened by acknowledging the New England blizzard and logistical challenges; Mike Vrabel was scheduled to speak at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Across roughly an hour of podium remarks he discussed safeties, rookies, Drake Maye, and roster construction while denying at least one report about outside interest in a veteran tackle. His comments provide a clearer picture of priorities as the Patriots enter free agency and the lead-up to the 2026 draft.
Key Takeaways
- Eliot Wolf confirmed the 2025 draft class is still developing and praised coach Mike Vrabel and staff for getting meaningful snaps from rookies during the season.
- Wolf emphasized the modern safety prototype: communication, athleticism, change-of-direction and range — and noted Jaylinn Hawkins is a free agent the team would welcome back.
- On a reported interest in Packers LT Rasheed Walker, Wolf flatly denied the report when asked, per beat reporting by Doug Kyed on Feb. 24, 2026.
- The organization expects Harold Landry to return, and Wolf described retaining certain defensive pieces as a priority heading into the offseason.
- Wolf said Drake Maye, 23, made substantial progress in 2025 and will continue to be developed by the coaching staff; he also noted rookie tackle Will Campbell, 22, showed growth but had a late-season dip after injury.
- Wolf framed the offseason plan as holistic: draft, free agency, trades, waiver claims and restricted free agency will all be considered.
- On NIL, Wolf called the effect a double-edged sword: some players arrive more prepared in business matters but potentially with different expectations.
Background
The Patriots reached the NFL’s championship game in the 2025 season and are moving into an offseason where expectations and roster decisions will be scrutinized. Elias Wolf serves as executive vice president overseeing personnel, working closely with coach Mike Vrabel, scouting staff and the contract group led by Richard Miller and Matt Groh. The front office places visible emphasis on culture and player development since Vrabel’s arrival; that message underpinned Wolf’s frequent references to newcomers “buying in.”
The 2025 rookie class contributed meaningful minutes, prompting Wolf to highlight the coaching staff’s role in preparation and assimilation. New England enters free agency with several internal decisions to make: some veterans (e.g., Jaylinn Hawkins) are free agents, Harold Landry’s status was described as expected to return, and the team will evaluate depth behind its starters. Wolf framed the process as multi-channel — not only free agency and the draft but also trades and waiver market attention.
Main Event
Wolf began publicly by acknowledging the heavy blizzard conditions affecting New England households and thanked team staffers who managed complex travel logistics to ensure the organization’s presence at the Combine. He said the group left a day-and-a-half early to mitigate disruptions and completed early meetings as planned. That framing set a collaborative, process-focused tone for his answers.
On the 2025 draft class, Wolf described the rookies as “still young” but credited Vrabel and his coaches for converting practice snaps into game minutes. He stressed that those players embraced the “Patriot” identity quickly and earned playing time through preparation. When asked about specific positional groups, Wolf noted safety as requiring versatility: a modern safety must communicate, play near the line, cover in man, tackle in space and show range.
Wolf addressed roster movement questions directly. Asked about reports linking New England to Packers tackle Rasheed Walker, he told reporters he had seen the report and stated it was not true, a categorical denial reported by Doug Kyed on Feb. 24, 2026. He also said the team expects Harold Landry back and that retaining Jaylinn Hawkins is a priority — though he declined to discuss contract specifics or individual negotiations publicly.
Topics such as the effect of NIL, how the team evaluates college quarterbacks and how the front office balances developing young players with protecting them under pressure also came up. Wolf characterized NIL as producing players who are both more business-literate and potentially more self-assured, and he said the club uses standardized interview questions with tailored elements per prospect. Regarding Drake Maye, Wolf called the 23-year-old’s development “tremendous,” while acknowledging there remain on-field areas to improve.
Analysis & Implications
Wolf’s categorical denial about Rasheed Walker has immediate roster-signaling value: the front office is attempting to tamp down speculation and set public expectations for the tackle market. That posture suggests New England prefers to control narratives during a sensitive negotiation window and signals confidence in existing line options, including Will Campbell and Jared (last name not specified) as starters.
Expressing that Harold Landry is expected back indicates priority spending may tilt toward retaining proven pass-rush elements rather than pursuing high-cost external replacements. Meanwhile, calling Jaylinn Hawkins a player the team would “welcome back” frames him as a candidate for re-signing but stops short of commitment — a negotiating posture that leaves flexibility under the cap.
Wolf’s emphasis on communication at safety and on the variety of ways to improve the roster (draft, trades, waivers, restricted free agency) points to an intent to build depth rather than pursue a single blockbuster. For a team that reached the Super Bowl, that conservative, multi-path approach seeks to balance short-term competitiveness with sustainable construction, especially if the club values continuity around a young quarterback on a rookie contract.
Finally, Wolf’s public optimism about Drake Maye’s growth aims to reassure fans and media that the quarterback position is a forward-looking project. By underlining Maye’s toughness and the developmental role of coaches McDaniels and Grant, the organization signals patience while still acknowledging targeted upgrades — likely in protection, weapons and depth — will be pursued.
Comparison & Data
| Player | Age | Status (as discussed) |
|---|---|---|
| Drake Maye | 23 | Young starter, substantial progress |
| Will Campbell | 22 | Starter at LT, recovered from injury but late dip |
| Harold Landry | N/A | Expected to return (team expectation) |
| Jaylinn Hawkins | N/A | Free agent, retention a priority |
The small roster snapshot above centers on ages and status comments Wolf provided. It underscores the front office’s focus on youth (Maye, Campbell) while balancing the need to keep veteran contributors. The table is not exhaustive but highlights the players Wolf explicitly referenced during podium remarks.
Reactions & Quotes
Beat reporters immediately circulated Wolf’s more emphatic replies; one exchange addressed the Walker rumor directly. Context: reporters had filed a story linking the Patriots to a veteran tackle, which Wolf denied in short order.
I saw that report, and it’s not true.
— Eliot Wolf (quoted by Doug Kyed, Feb. 24, 2026)
Wolf also stressed the intangible traits the team values at safety when asked about evaluation criteria.
Communication is so underrated at that position.
— Eliot Wolf, on safety traits
On his evaluation of Drake Maye’s progress, Wolf used emphatic language that a front office will commonly use to calm questions around a young starter.
Satisfied is a tremendous understatement. Drake made a ton of progress.
— Eliot Wolf, on Drake Maye
Unconfirmed
- The initial media report linking the Patriots to Packers LT Rasheed Walker was denied by Wolf; the reasons behind the original report (sources or offer discussions) remain unverified.
- Wolf said the team expects Harold Landry back, but no signed contract or official team transaction had been announced at the time of his podium comments.
- Specific contract talks with internal free agents were referenced but not disclosed; details on offers, timelines or cap figures were not provided.
Bottom Line
Eliot Wolf’s Combine podium session sent a clear message: New England is emphasizing continuity, development and a multi-pronged approach to roster improvement. By praising the 2025 rookies and underscoring coaching impact, Wolf signaled that the organization believes internal growth can bridge gaps even as it hunts for upgrades in free agency and the draft.
His categorical denial of a specific tackle report sought to limit speculation and indicate the team will not confirm or feed every external rumor. For observers, the key takeaways are the priorities Wolf named — retain pass-rush help, evaluate safety versatility, protect and develop the young quarterback — and the pragmatic offseason blueprint that follows.