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Patriots May Have Just Cost Themselves Best Hire for Opening

By Richard Louis

Oct 20, 2024; London, United Kingdom; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft before an NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images
Oct 20, 2024; London, United Kingdom; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft before an NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images / Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images
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The New England Patriots finished the 2024 season with a 4-13 record. After shockingly beating the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 the Patriots hit a massive wall and failed to bounce back. In Week 18, the Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills' backups 23-16 but New England wasted no time firing Jerod Mayo.

While they let go of Mayo, Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf will be retained for the 2025 season. Not only that but owner Robert Kraft revealed that he'll have a hand in choosing the next coach.

Patriots News: Alonzo Highsmith and Eliot Wolf Will Help Choose Next HC

Personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith and Wolf will have a say in who the Patriots bring in next, but that isn't good news for one of the hottest candidates on the market. Ben Johnson. The 38-year-old is the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions and has the unit humming.

Johnson has made it clear that he wants to create alignment between him and the general manager. He also wants to work with an owner who is willing to identify the team's weaknesses and address them.

With Wolf being the de facto general manager, that doesn't make the spot as enticing. Johnson would have wanted to come in with a GM that he really likes. He has shown that he won't take any job that's available. Last season, he took interviews with multiple teams but decided to head back to the Lions cause he wasn't thrilled with what was available.

He has his preferences and won't move off of them. New England keeping Wolf may be a problem in the Johnson sweepstakes.

Under Johnson this season, the Lions are second in total offense (409.5) and passing offense (263.2). They were also sixth in rushing offense (146.4) and first in scoring offense (33.2). He is very innovative and willing to try out different things. Johnson coming to New England would be a home run with Drake Maye showing tremendous flashes as a rookie.

We'll have to see how things unfold but this can't be a positive development for Johnson.

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