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The New England Patriots have initiated the process of seeking a new head of football operations, according to multiple reports.
But one would-be candidate, Cincinnati Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown, has already declined the Patriots’ interview request, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted on May 6.
“Brown will remain a top GM candidate in next year’s cycle,” Pelissero wrote.
Current director of scouting Eliot Wolf, who assumed the de factor general manager role after Bill Belichick’s departure earlier this year, is widely considered the front-runner for the role.
“There is an expectation inside Gillette Stadium and among other NFL teams that Patriots will ultimately hire Eliot Wolf,” MassLive wrote on May 6.
Trey Brown Began His Career in New England
Brown had been considered a top candidate for general manager with the Buffalo Bills in 2017 and the Las Vegas Raiders in 2018 and 2022.
A return to New England would mark a homecoming for Brown, who kickstarted his front-office journey as a scout for the Patriots. Following his tenure in New England, Brown embarked on a significant chapter with the Philadelphia Eagles, eventually ascending to director of college scouting. After brief stints in alternative football leagues such as the AAF and XFL, Brown transitioned to the Bengals in 2021, initially joining as a scout. Within a year, he was promoted to senior personnel executive.
Brown’s tenure with the Bengals coincided with the team’s returned to competitiveness, and his contributions earned him accolades within the organization. His emergence as a sought-after talent in the NFL executive landscape has been evident for quite some time. While Brown has yet to secure a role as general manager, his track record and potential have positioned him as a prime candidate for future general manager openings.
Are the Patriots a Coveted Landing Spot?
Wolf’s extensive contributions to roster management and salary cap strategies over recent months, underscored by the bold move to draft quarterback Drake Maye as the third overall pick, position him as a leading contender, if not the front-runner, for the role.
“The fact Eliot Wolf held roster control this offseason, when the #Patriots spent $123.9 million guaranteed in free agency and used a top-5 pick, says enough by itself,” the Boston Herald’s Andrew Callahan wrote.
With Wolf leading the Patriots through the offseason, does that make the Patriots a less-than-appealing landing spot for potential general manager candidates?
“Patriots probably are having a tough time convincing candidates that Eliot Wolf isn’t a lock to get the job,” according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe.
Add the facts that the Patriots have started a rebuild with many pivotal decisions already made and a rookie head coach — former player Jerod Mayo — already in place, and maybe the Patriots GM isn’t desirable.
It’s hard to imagine that any serious candidates for general manager openings around the NFL would jump at the opportunity to interview for a position that feels like it already belongs to an executive in the building.
Volin also reported on May 6 that the Patriots already had complied with the Rooney Rule, which mandates that at least two minority candidates outside an organization must get interview opportunities.