ORLANDO - On Monday morning, Jerod Mayo will take another small step in his head coaching career, sitting at a table at the NFL league meetings in Florida and fielding questions from various media members, both on the Patriots beat and outside the 508/617. But on Sunday, Boston Sports Journal and a couple of other outlets staked out the team's first-time boss, speaking with him shortly after participating in the coaches' photo. It was a brief exchange but offered insight into how the organization is progressing this offseason.
"So, obviously quarterback is definitely a priority," said Mayo about the NFL draft, which is a little over a month away. "With that being said, we're still open to any type of deals that come our way. We're very far in the process, and we still have a long way to go. Definitely feel like we have time to really nail down our prospects that we're going to go after."
It's been a whirlwind for Mayo and company. He was at USC's pro day, watching Caleb Williams, then found his way to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to eyeball rising signal caller J.J. McCarthy. After these meetings, he, Eliot Wolf and other staff members will be in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to check out Jayden Daniels then fly up to Chapel, North Carolina, to see Drake Maye. No stone unturned.
"It's hard to put a number as far as a percentage on how far we are along," Mayo said. "Remember, there are other positions besides quarterback as well. So we're - you know - we'll be at 100% when the draft gets here. We're just not there yet."
The Pats at least have two guys who have started - Jacoby Brissett, who signed for $8 million to kick off free agency, and Bailey Zappe, who finished the season as the number one guy in Foxborough. But plans to weaponize the offense over the last two weeks haven't gone according to plan.
The team made a bid for wide receiver Calvin Ridley, but once Tennessee got involved, the Pats were dead where they stood. That left the team pivoting to a solid pro in K.J. Osborn, but no one who will be mistaken for a number one or two receiver (at least, that's not something he displayed during his time in Minnesota). I asked Mayo his thoughts on where things stand, and he didn't seem fazed
"I think the most important thing for us is
to get our people back here, right? We sign our players, the Mike Onwenus of the world. Look, we have some good players that we want to keep and that's kind of part of the culture that we want to build," Mayo said. "You know, obviously disappointed that Ridley went in a different direction, but hey, we're good. I like I like the direction that we're going."
It's been clear that rebuilding an offensive roster devoid of high-end talent would never be accomplished in one offseason, further highlighting the state Belichick left it in and the sizeable task at hand for Mayo and the front office. Free agency forced them to take smaller steps than some would have liked (raising hand), putting even more at stake beginning on April 25th with—for now—the number three pick in round one. Unless someone makes them an offer they can't refuse.