Is Patriots' Eliot Wolf scarred by Baker Mayfield draft experience?

New England Patriots de facto general manager Eliot Wolf served as assistant general manager with the Cleveland Browns when they made quarterback Baker Mayfield the first pick of the 2018 NFL Draft. 

Wolf spoke with reporters on Thursday and addressed if the events of six years ago will impact how he'll approach New England possessing the third choice of this year's player-selection process. 

"Every situation is unique," Wolf said, as shared by Chris Mason of MassLive. "I mean, obviously, (Baltimore Ravens starter) Lamar Jackson is a Hall of Famer, and we didn’t pick him. So that’s not a great look. But also, if we picked Lamar Jackson at one, we’d probably have had to pack our bags at that point, too." 

The Ravens made Jackson the final pick of the draft's first round back in 2018, and he is now a two-time regular-season Most Valuable Player. The Buffalo Bills landed a franchise quarterback who is mentioned in MVP conversations just about every fall in Josh Allen at selection No. 7. 

Meanwhile, the Browns replaced Mayfield with Deshaun Watson in March 2022, and the Carolina Panthers then gave up on Mayfield in December of that same year. 

Mayfield played well for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past season en route to earning a three-year contract. However, Tampa Bay could escape that deal as soon as next offseason. 

Wolf is in a similar situation this spring, as the Patriots are expected to draft their best quarterback available among Jayden Daniels of the LSU Tigers, Drake Maye of the North Carolina Tar Heels and J.J. McCarthy of the Michigan Wolverines. By all accounts, the Washington Commanders will select one of those signal-callers at pick No. 2. 

"Nothing’s really changed," Wolf said about his current philosophy compared to how he approached the 2018 draft. "We’re still looking for the good player. And I think in this situation, we’re going to have the support that’s needed for that quarterback, if we draft one. Whoever it is, we’re going to have a situation where they’re supported in every way possible to make them succeed."

Specifically, the Patriots have veteran Jacoby Brissett on the roster to serve as a mentor and a bridge option at quarterback. 

History shows that at least one player out of Daniels, Maye and McCarthy will flop with his first NFL team for whatever reasons. Fears related to such an outcome could cause Wolf to trade down in the draft order, but it sounds like his decision will have nothing to do with what Mayfield was and wasn't for the Browns from 2018 through January 2022.