The Patriots didn’t need to do much, but they absolutely couldn’t afford to stand pat prior to the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday.
Eliot Wolf didn’t seem to get that message.
Wolf — the executive vice president of player personnel — was handed the reigns this past offseason and entrusted with roster-building responsibilities following the dismissal of Bill Belichick, and in all honesty, the early returns haven’t been great.
New England appears to have hit a home run with quarterback Drake Maye, but the rookie class (wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, offensive linemen Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson and tight end Jaheim Bell) looks extremely shaky outside of that. Wolf also didn’t do much to supplement the roster during free agency, spending minimal funds on the likes of quarterback Jacoby Brissett, offensive linemen Chukwuma Okorafor and Nick Leverett, defensive lineman Armon Watts, wide receiver K.J. Osborn and linebacker Sione Takitaki — all of which have minimal roles or are no longer with the club.
The Patriots did find some decent depth in running back Antonio Gibson, tight end Austin Hooper and safety Jaylinn Hawkins, however — while locking in franchise cornerstones like running back Rhamondre Stevenson, offensive lineman Mike Onwenu, linebacker Anfernee Jennings, and tight end Hunter Henry.
It’s been a true mixed bag, but with an opportunity to push things in the right direction at the deadline, Wolf whiffed once again.
New England made just one trade prior to the buzzer, shipping linebacker Joshua Uche to the Kansas City Chiefs for a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft back on Oct. 28.
Wolf highlighted an opportunity to obtain draft capital by trading away a player on an expiring contract, but why didn’t he keep going? The Patriots had a litany of trade candidates in the same position as Uche, with defensive linemen Daniel Ekuale and Deatrich Wise, wide receiver Tyquan Thornton and cornerback Jonathan Jones all looking like they could be on their way out. Osborn, who we mentioned earlier, was a healthy scratch last week and has all but asked to be traded. There reportedly was an opportunity, too, but for some reason, it was decided the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze.
You can’t excuse that.
Josina Anderson did report that teams were asking for the likes of cornerback Christian Gonzalez, pass-rusher Keion White, defensive lineman Davon Godchaux and safety Kyle Dugger, so it was smart to stand pat on that front, but it doesn’t mean there weren’t other opportunities.
Wolf just sat back and watched everything unfold, wasting away an opportunity to better the franchise just as he did during the majority of the draft and free agency.
GRADE: C-
