Patriots GM breaks silence on Mike Vrabel role after coach skips pre-draft press conference and raises obvious questions
Head coach Mike Vrabel has been working regularly during the pre-draft process, and Eliot Wolf highlighted how the front office and coaching staff are more connected this year.
The New England Patriots are going business as usual in their pre-draft process. At least internally. Externally, head coach Mike Vrabel decided to skip the pre-draft press conference this week, possibly because of the Dianna Russini debacle.
Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf, the team’s de facto general manager, confirmed that Vrabel has been working on the pre-draft process like he would normally do.
“Very involved. I mean, business as usual,” Wolf said. “He’s been in there. I’d say he’s been in there with us probably, this round of meeting, probably more than he was last year. This is me putting words in his mouth, he’s probably more comfortable just where things stand. But he’s been in there.”
Vrabel’s role
The Patriots hired Mike Vrabel as a head coach one year after Wolf took over as the top personnel person, which created some questions about the duo’s workflow. However, Wolf highlighted how the front office and coaching staff have worked together to find the best process.
“[Vrabel] has been contributing, he’s watched a ton of the players,” Wolf added. “He tries to watch every player that we give to each position coach, he watches the whole what we call the coaches’ list. So he has an opinion on these guys. It’s helpful, because sometimes there are players that the scouts like, me included, and he’ll be like ‘This is the reason why maybe this guy isn’t the best fit for us.’ So we can continue to compile all the information together.”
Last year, the first with Wolf and Vrabel together, the Patriots drafted 11 players: Offensive lineman Will Campbell, running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receiver Kyle Williams, offensive lineman Jared Wilson, safety Craig Woodson, defensive tackle Joshua Farmer, edge defender Bradyn Swinson, kicker Andres Borregales, offensive lineman Marcus Bryant, long snapper Julian Ashby, and defensive back Kobee Minor.
It’s natural that Mike Vrabel will avoid more media exposure this week, but that has not affected their pre-draft work.