Zolak: Jonathan Kraft is “not heavily involved in the football part of it”
ESPN NFL reporter Dianna Russini caused a stir on Monday by tweeting that Patriots president Jonathan Kraft is “heavily involved in the decision making” when i comes tot he 3rd overall pick in the NFL Draft:
The New England Patriots are listening and taking calls from teams looking to move into 3.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) April 22, 2024
While Eliot Wolf is running point, I’m told Patriots’ President Jonathan Kraft is heavily involved in the decision making.
On the heels of this report, our own Scott Zolak says that he is hearing that Jonathan Kraft is not as involved in football decisions as is being reported:
“I was told Jonathan Kraft is not involved in football. Football decisions are made by the football people. Eliot Wolf, Matt Groh, Jerod Mayo and the football staff. Where I thought they would get involved was that, “hey, this team is calling Mr. Kraft or Jonathan Kraft, and they want our pick at three.” This is where I thought they’re not going to get involved telling you which quarterback to take or who we’re trading back to get. It would make sense to me. If it’s my organization, my team, and there’s this other team offering all this stuff, I would like to be involved in that. And I thought, that’s where this report came from Russini, where Jonathan is involved here. Like, if there’s a big trade in the bag, they’ve got to get it approved. That would be normal operating procedure to me. And I was told that is not the case. This is all Eliot. This is all Jerod. And this is all football people. Jonathan’s not running the football part of it. Business? Yes. Football? No.”
Meanwhile, Marc Bertrand thinks, ownership should in fact be involved to a certain extent, especially this year.
“So Eliot Wolf can trade the number three overall pick and he doesn’t have to run it by anybody? That to me is problematic. I like Eliot Wolf just fine. I think they probably made a decent pick if they’re going to stick with Eliot Wolf going forward, but I’m sorry. Eliot Wolf is, for the first time in his football life, in charge. And this is the best pick the franchise has had in three decades and you don’t have to call upstairs? I want him calling.”
Find more of this conversation below and be sure to follow all our draft coverage here.
LISTEN: Is ownership involved in the decision-making process for the Draft?
2024 Patriots pick-by-pick NFL Draft big board and build your own mock draft
Round 1, Pick 3
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 23: Drake Maye #10 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrates after a North Carolina Tar Heels touchdown in the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
— QB Drake Maye, UNC
— QB J.J. McCarthy, Michigan
— WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State
— WR Malik Nabers, LSU
— OT Joe Alt, Notre Dame
— TE Brock Bowers, Georgia
— QB Jayden Daniels, LSU (stretch)
— QB Michael Penix, Washington (reach)O.K., so there are a few ‘reaches’ here by nature of this pick being at the top of the board. We had to get the options to eight players somehow, but realistically only five or six will get picked by those playing along – especially without trades.
Round 2, Pick 34
Oct 21, 2023; Provo, Utah, USA; Brigham Young Cougars offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia (78) prepares to block against the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the first half at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
— WR Xavier Worthy, Texas
— WR Ladd McConkey, Georgia
— WR Troy Franklin, Oregon
— OL Jordan Morgan, Arizona
— OL Kingsley Suamataia, BYU
— DB Mike Sainristil, Michigan
— OL Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma (stretch)
— TE Ja’Tavion Snaders, Texas (reach)There are a handful of receivers that could be in play here, but were sticking with Worthy and McConkey as the two highest-rated players on the board and adding Frankin, who the Patriots hosted for a pre-draft meeting. Could Xavier Legette get past the Panthers at 33? Would the Patriots be interested in Roman Wilson or Ricky Pearsall?
Tackle is a bit more cut and dry in this spot. Suamataia and Morgan will likely be on the board, while Guyton is a trade-up option. No quarterbacks here, representing the very real chance the top six get taken in the first round.
Round 3, Pick 68
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 14: Devontez Walker #9 of the North Carolina Tar Heels breaks away from Kamren Kinchens #5 of the Miami Hurricanes for a touchdown during the second half of their game at Kenan Memorial Stadium on October 14, 2023 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels won 41-31. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
— WR Jalen McMillan, Washington
— WR Tez Walker, UNC
— OT Blake Fisher, Notre Dame
— OT Patrick Paul, Houston
— RB Blake Corum, Michigan
— EDGE Austin Booker, Kansas
— CB Max Melton, Rutgers (stretch)
— QB Spencer Rattler, South Carolina (reach)Round 4, Pick 103
COLUMBUS, OHIO – OCTOBER 07: Cade Stover #8 of the Ohio State Buckeyes runs for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of a game against the Maryland Terrapins at Ohio Stadium on October 07, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)
— OT Roger Rosengarten, Washington
— WR Javon Baker, UCF
— TE Cade Stover, Ohio State
— RB Braelon Allen, Wisconsin
— CB Cam Hart, Notre Dame
— EDGE Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State
— WR Brenden Rice, USC (stretch)
— QB Michael Pratt, Tulane (reach)As Day 3 begins, it becomes less about drafting for position and more about just finding good football players. So, expect to see more positions start to appear on the board.
Round 5, Pick 137
Nov 25, 2022; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers offensive lineman Javon Foster (76) on the line against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
— TE Jared Wiley, TCU
— WR Luke McCaffrey, Rice
— RB Dylan Laube
— OT Javon Foster, Missouri
— LB Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington
— IOL Zak Zinter, Michigan
— DT DeWayne Carter, Duke (stretch)
— EDGE Jaylx Hunt, Houston Christian (reach)This pick is probably where the Patriots enter the range where they can realistically start doubling up at key positions. Tackle and wide receiver are the most obvious two such spots.
Round 6, Pick 180
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 14: Joe Milton III #7 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs the ball against the Texas A&M Aggies in the second quarter at Neyland Stadium on October 14, 2023 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
— EDGE Brennan Jackson, Washington State
— CB Chau Wade-Smith, Washington State
— K Joshua Karty, Stanford
— QB Joe Milton, Tennessee
— OT Walter Rouse, Olkahoma
— S James Williams, Miami
— EDGE Xavier Thomas, Clemson (stretch)
— TE AJ Barner, Michigan (reach)This is the first of the Patriots’ two closest picks in the draft. They’re back on the board 13 spots later.
Round 6, Pick 193
Nov 18, 2023; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Evan Williams (33) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
— TE Tip Reiman, Illinois
— WR Bub Means, Pittsburgh
— DT Jordan Jefferson, LSU
— RB Dillon Johnson, Washington
— RB Cody Schrader, Missouri
— S Evan Williams, Oregon
— EDGE Nelson Caesar (stretch)
— LB Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State (reach)Just like that, back on the board again. Given how close together these picks are, for those playing along you could take two picks from the 180 or 193 spot, and no players from the other.
Round 7, Pick 231
Holy Cross’s Jalen Coker hauls in a pass for a first down over Merrimack’s Darion McKenzie in the third quarter Saturday at Fitton Field. (Syndication: Worcester Telegram)
— WR Jalen Coker, Holy Cross
— K Harrison Mevis, Missouri
— S Trey Taylor, Air Force
— OT Frank Crum, Wyoming
— QB Carter Bradley, South Alabama
— IOL Kingsley Eguakun, Florida
— WR Jordan Whittington, Texas (stretch)
— LB Jackson Sirmon, Cal (reach)Wrapping up the draft with the Patriots’ final pick. Keep in mind that whatever player is selected here, he’ll most likely have to play on special teams to make the roster.
UDFAs: Offense
FRISCO, TEXAS – DECEMBER 19: Rasheen Ali #22 of the Marshall Thundering Herd runs with the ball during the first half of the Frisco Bowl against the UTSA Roadrunners at Toyota Stadium on December 19, 2023 in Frisco, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
— QB Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
— RB Rasheen Ali, Marshall
— WR Isaiah Williams, Illinois
— TE Devin Culp, Washington
— OT Giovanni Manu, UBC
— IOL C.J. Hanson, Holy Cross
— K Brayden Narveson, NC StateFor those feeling up for a challenge, pick an offensive UDFA to add to your draft class. We’ll do defense next.
UDFAs: Defense
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 09: Mark Perry #3 of the TCU Horned Frogs warms up before the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Georgia Bulldogs at SoFi Stadium on January 09, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
— DT Justin Rogers, Auburn
— EDGE Jalen Green, James Madison
— LB Aaron Casey, Illinois
— CB Qwan’tez Stiggers, Toronto Argonauts
— S Mark Perry, TCU
— P Kyle Ostendorp, ArizonaThat’s a wrap on our 2024 big board/mock draft! How’d you do?
