Bill Belichick was voted the NFL's Executive of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America on Thursday. It was the first time he has taken home the award. Scott Pioli won in 2003 and '07 while with the Patriots.
The official awards, voted by the AP, will be announced around the Super Bowl.
Belichick was certainly worthy of the award, with the Patriots getting more talent through free agency and the draft this year to improve by three wins this season to 10-8.
What's interesting about Belichick taking this award is:
a) Belichick's decisions as an executive — his drafting and not having a QB plan after Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo — put the team into a position where they were 7-9;
b) The Patriots spent an NFL record in free agency to plug their self-inflicted holes...
And then there's this:
c) if the Patriots are going to restore themselves as true AFC contenders, Belichick may have to win one or two more of these awards in the next few years — because of where his roster was.
More on that and the status of Josh McDaniels after the Raiders put in a request for him to interview for the head coaching position...
BSJ Analysis
Belichick absolutely did a very good job this year as a personnel executive. With Dave Ziegler seemingly more empowered with the draft, the Patriots got three immediate and major rookie contributors: Mac Jones, Christian Barmore and Rhamondre Stevenson. If that had been done similarly in previous years, maybe the Patriots wouldn't have to shell out $160 million in contract guarantees in free agency.
In free agency, Matthew Judon was worth every penny — for 13 games. Hunter Henry and Kendrick Bourne were also worth what the Patriots paid them. Henry was a shrewd move and might have gotten Belichick the award by himself.
The Patriots picked Jonnu Smith as the top TE in free agency and signed him first for the same money. If Belichick stopped there, the team would have been in serious trouble. But Belichick had the foresight to sign Henry, and he quickly became TE1. He was invaluable to Jones.
But the final five games revealed the reigning Exec of the Year has much work to do, and not as many resources this time around. On the list:
- A 100-catch target for Jones that can move the chains;
- Two man-cover cornerbacks if JC Jackson is not brought back;
- Run-stuffing nose tackle;
- Speed at LB
- An impact pass rusher if Josh Uche and Chase Winovich are not it;
- A pass-catching RB
The 2021 offseason was a very good start and Belichick did do an award-winning job, but there is still much left to do.
RAIDERS REQUEST TO INTERVIEW MCDANIELS
The Las Vegas Raiders put in a request with the Patriots to interview Josh McDaniels for their head coaching job. That step would not have happened if McDaniels, after spending a couple of weeks vetting the job, did not have at least some interest.
That is a long way from accepting the job, however.
The reporting on this story elsewhere has been all over the map. But, as usual, we've told you what you needed to know and when.
McDaniels was never a favorite, but there was interest on both sides. It was far from imminent when there were reports linking McDaniels to the job.
McDaniels was going through his process, examining the job and putting out feelers on possible coaches on his staff. This is normal.
This week there were reports McDaniels was on the outs and something had happened. That also was not accurate. Both sides have been going through the process, and there is still farther to go.
McDaniels would need to feel comfortable with owner Mark Davis and the Vegas setup — likely with Dave Ziegler as GM — before he ever left. With Mac Jones and the Patriots now on the upswing, McDaniels is being more picky than ever. He turned down opportunities to interview elsewhere. It has to be the perfect job.
Could the Raiders be it? Yes, but I wouldn't say that's definitive at this point.
If McDaniels leaves, Bill O'Brien is the favorite to rejoin the Patriots as offensive coordinator and be the favorite to be the heir apparent to Belichick.