FOXBOROUGH - Armed with the most salary cap space in the NFL currently, the Patriots are constantly mentioned as a possible suitor for any number of big-ticket items currently feuding with their organizations (see Terry McLaurin, Trey Hendrickson, and Micah Parsons).
When asked today if the Pats would be interested in making a seismic trade, even if that included surrendering a first and/or second round pick, Executive of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf answered in the affirmative.
"Yeah, absolutely. We're talking to all 31 teams and trying to do what's best for us," Wolf said. "I think those things are often a lot more complicated than the fans and some others would like to make you believe. But if there is something we think can help us, we'd definitely be open to it."
My read on that response is simple: What the hell else was he supposed to say? Wolf has burned up the phone lines before (Brandon Aiyuk, D.K. Metcalf), so this is not out of character, nor, however, is it an admission that they are actively seeking to absorb a massive contract. As I've written in this space before, the Pats are actually over the cap for 2026, and will have the potential to do a Christian Gonzalez extension, too.
"It's a big-picture view," said Wolf when asked if leaving so much space was reflective of how they feel about the 2025-26 version of this team. "Also, we have the quarterback on a rookie contract. I certainly think we spent a lot of money in free agency this year, so I don't think it's indicative of where we think we are as a team."
Other items of note from Wolf this morning included a question from yours truly regarding who has final say - he or Mike Vrabel. I presented it as such: if you want player X and Mike wants player Y and you can't agree, is it ultimately your call?
"Yeah, ultimately it would be, but again, I think we all understand where we're coming from, and that's why we'll watch film together. We'll take the position coaches and coordinators, and Ryan (Cowden), Alonzo (Highsmith), and the pro department, we'll take everybody's stock and see and make sure we do what is best for the."
He later added, "One of the best things about working with Mike is we have the same vision, and it's ultimately his vision, but we believe in the same things as far as treating people right, working hard, effort, toughness, and finish. I mean, those are all things that he espouses, that I also believe in."
Wolf was also asked about the good early returns on this draft class and if there was something different about how the organization went about their business this year versus last.
"I think maybe just the vision for what we wanted as players," he said. "And I think, again, we'll see what happens here. But like you said, it's been positive through two preseason games. Obviously, those don't count, so we'll see how they do moving forward."
We're scheduled to hear from Cowden on Tuesday morning, as well as the defensive assistant coaches, including coordinator Terrell Williams.
EVEN-KEELED
We have, and will continue, to write a ton about left tackle Will Campbell. The 4th overall pick will play a critical role in the success of this offense, and Vrabel called his performance versus the 2nd team Vikings defense on Saturday "fine."
Campbell himself is trying not to ride the roller coaster (if you'll recall, Morgan Moses told us earlier this summer that the rookie needs to give himself more grace after a bad play). That's why he's taking a more analytical approach after, say, getting beaten by Jonathan Greenard several times in Thursday's joint practice.
"You know what you do the second you get beat," he told me. "And it's like I said at the beginning of training camp, Josh McDaniels told me, you don't lose, you learn. So whenever I lose a rep, I'm thinking about going to the ball the next play, letting it go, and telling myself not to do that again, because obviously it didn't work. So just learning, not letting it get in your head, and making one play turn into two, two turn into three, so on and so forth."
Campbell has shown to be a resilient player through this portion of camp, and has generally responded to a poor play or period with improved performance the next time he posts. That has been, in part, one of the things that has impressed this coaching staff and front office about him. His play demeanor, to go along with his play strength, and when needed, a level of nastiness that is required at the position.
"Just try to go out there, set the tone," he said. "But not just me. I know that's how guys are going to play. This whole, entire team. Any 11 that are out there for the Patriots are going to play hard, physical, nasty, and finish."
Of course, there is an adjustment to where he was at this time last year to what he's seeing now. Oh sure, Georgia and Alabama have been littered with high draft picks on the defensive side of the ball, but this professional stuff, it's on a higher plane.
"The curve is the field," he said. "The players are the National Football League. The players are here for a reason. That's because they're the best in the world. In college, you play a good team and a bad team, and the bad team doesn't have good players. Well, the bad teams in the NFL still have Pro Bowlers. So that's the difference."
PRACTICE NOTES FROM BEDARD
- The Patriots held a mostly jog-through practice today, with mildly competitive 7 on 7 and game situational period.
- Sounds like Tuesday's practice could be heavy for the starters, if they aren't going to play in the game. "These are going to be two important days here," Mike Vrabel said. "We've got to get back out here. We'll be in the red zone today. And then there will be a group of guys that get a lot of reps tomorrow that are going to be good, important reps. So, based on how that goes, that'll tell me a lot for Thursday night."
- Drake Maye threw two interceptions to Robert Spillane, in 7 on 7 and team. I'm not taking much from it. It's not nothing, but it wasn't all that serious.
- Despite Vrabel said left guard and center are still a competition before practice – "We'll continue to evaluate that spot and that rotation and where we're at competing and trying to make sure that we're giving everybody the opportunity in there, from the center and the left guard, and just trying to figure out what the best combination is" — the Patriots were back to their perceived starting line: Will Campbell, Jared Wilson, Garrett Bradbury, Mike Onwenu and Morgan Moses. Ben Brown got his first snaps at right guard on the second team. Cole Strange was the second-team center and had two terrible shotgun snaps.
- Kyle Dugger played on the scout team.