Patriots Rumors: Eliot Wolf Expected to Have Personnel Control After Belichick Exit

The New England Patriots are expected to make Eliot Wolf their lead voice on personnel matters, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

MassLive's Mark Daniels reported the Patriots haven't settled on Wolf's official title, "but he's currently at the top of the team's personnel department."

New England hired Jerod Mayo to replace Bill Belichick as head coach, but it was less clear how the franchise would adjust to life without Belichick in charge of personnel.

Even if Belichick had returned, the franchise might have sought out a new voice to guide football-related matters. The legendary coach had come under increasing scrutiny for how he assembled the roster, to the point where he said before his dismissal he was willing to take a step back.

ESPN's Mike Reiss reported in January that Wolf, the director of scouting, "is viewed by some in the organization as well-positioned to be the choice for more responsibility and to possibly lead personnel efforts."

We're still more than a month out from free agency, but it appears Wolf is at least already beginning to restructure the front office.

The Athletic's Chad Graff, Manny Navarro and Bruce Feldman reported Wednesday the Patriots are hiring Alonzo Highsmith for an unspecified role on the personnel side. Highsmith was the general manager of football operations at Miami, and he has an existing rapport with Wolf.

The Athletic report also outlined Wolf's influence on the coaching side.

"As [Mayo] has built out his coaching staff in recent weeks, he's leaned heavily on Wolf's connections," the report read. "Mayo's new offensive coordinator, Alex Van Pelt, worked with Wolf in Green Bay, as did Ben McAdoo, who the Patriots are adding as an offensive assistant, and Jerry Montgomery, who the Patriots are adding as a defensive assistant coach."

Wolf has a lot of work ahead. The Patriots' 4-13 record laid bare how much they need to improve, and no question will be bigger than what New England does at the quarterback position.

Using the No. 3 pick on North Carolina's Drake Maye or LSU's Jayden Daniels would certainly be one way for Wolf to turn the page to a new era.