Does the fact that Josh McDaniels was spotted in the Patriots' war room mean anything?

FOXBOROUGH — The war room video from Thursday night that revealed the moment the Patriots made the call to their first pick Isaiah Wynn was interesting for a few reasons, not the least of which was the fact that Josh McDaniels was spotted in the room with the rest of the decision-makers. Why was that interesting?


See the accompanying screencap from the video.



Traditionally, Bill Belichick favors a small room on draft weekend, with only a few people. While coordinators have been in there in the past — we’ve heard Charlie Weis talk about being in the war room in the past — it’s still notable to see someone other than Belichick, personnel chief Nick Caserio, Ernie Adams and Robert Kraft in there. In the past, we’ve heard stories about ways Belichick has tried to prepare McDaniels for life as an NFL head coach. Is this another one of those life lessons? Or is it just McDaniels offering counsel on the addition of a pair of offensive players in Wynn and Sony Michel. Regardless, it was something that stood out for us.

Bedard's analysis

This is very significant to me. I've never seen McDaniels in there previously (maybe he was), but certainly not at the "head table."

McDaniels' return to the fold was almost entirely a Robert Kraft operation, most likely to give himself options should Belichick leave in the near future. Along those same lines, those reports about Belichick opening his world to McDaniels was, also, a Kraft production (McDaniels has previously said Belichick had included him and helped groom him for a head coach position).

In my estimation, McDaniels being front and center also was influenced by Kraft. Time to get the possible next guy some better reps.