The New England Patriots are on the brink of reshaping their football operations for 2024, with Elliot Wolf emerging as a frontrunner for the GM position. However, recent reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter hint at potential changes in the team’s front office structure, with new interviews for prospective candidates being conducted.
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The New England Patriots are conducting interviews for a football executive position, Adam Schefter’s sources say. Samir Suleiman, former Carolina Panthers director, and Brandon Hunt, Eagles director of scouting, are among the candidates.
It is, however, unclear if these meetings are related to the General Manager role or if the franchise aims to strengthen the team around Elliot Wolf. What adds to the intrigue is that Wolf’s designation still remains unchanged as “Director of Scouting.” Perhaps Kraft was somewhat impressed but remains uncertain about entrusting him with the General Manager position.
Patriots are interviewing former Carolina Panthers director of player negotiations and salary cap manager Samir Suleiman today for a football executive job, per sources.
Patriots also continue their visit today with Eagles director of scouting Brandon Hunt.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 8, 2024
For over two decades, Bill Belichick has managed all football operations, and the Kraft family now seeks a fresh perspective. This speculation emerged after the Patriots began their search for a new front-office figure on Monday.
However, indications strongly favor Elliot Wolf securing the GM role in New England. So much so that the Patriots faced rejections from candidates they sought to interview from other teams.
Why Are the New England Patriots Finding It Difficult to Find a New General Manager?
As the news broke about the Patriots initiating their quest for a potential candidate on Monday, it was revealed that several individuals declined the invitation to interview for the role. Bengals senior personnel official Trey Brown and former Cardinals executive Quentin Harris, among others, turned down the request.
Michael Hurley of CBS News highlighted concerns related to the Rooney Rule, which mandates NFL teams to conduct in-person interviews with two external minority candidates for open head coach and GM positions before making a hire.
However, the franchise didn’t have to adhere to this rule when hiring Jerod Mayo, thanks to a succession clause in his contract, allowing him to assume the role. Is the team simply inviting external candidates to check a box?
#Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown has declined a request to interview for the #Patriots de facto GM position, per source. Brown will remain a top GM candidate in next year’s cycle.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 6, 2024
Moreover, with reports indicating that the job may already be earmarked for Elliot Wolf, qualified candidates seem reluctant to undergo the interview process for a seemingly non-vacant position.
There is no confirmation that the Patriots have conducted an in-person interview with an external candidate for their de facto GM position. Sources across the league believe Eliot Wolf is the heavy favorite for the job and the Pats have gotten several interview rejections so far.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) May 7, 2024
Former Cardinals VP of player personnel Quentin Harris has declined an interview with the Patriots for their head of football operations job, source says. Harris, recently released by Arizona, has previously interviewed for 3 GM jobs.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) May 7, 2024
Another potential factor is that the Patriots are undergoing a significant shift following Bill Belichick’s 24-year reign. The team’s once-commanding presence, particularly during the peak of the Tom Brady-Belichick era, may have diminished with the departure of both figures.
Candidates may hesitate to join a front office facing such substantial changes. While new interviews are underway, final decisions await official confirmations from the Patriots.
