Takeaways from Jerod Mayo's introductory news conference

Unlike with former head coach Bill Belichick, who preferred to keep roster decisions away from public speculation, Mayo gave hints regarding what his draft plan is with the Patriots’ third overall pick in the 2024 draft, and it sounds like New England will be taking a quarterback. 

“We’re going to draft the best player for a position that’s very important. You put the pieces together,” Mayo said.

Mayo also announced that he would be installing coordinator positions for both the offense and defense, which will end a long-standing Patriots tradition created by Belichick, who preferred to vaguely title the team’s coaching staff. 

“Titles are important… no knock to coach Belichick,” Mayo jested. 

Contrary to what early offseason reports indicated, owner Robert Kraft revealed that the franchise would be holding interviews with external general manager candidates, but that he first wants to see what names they already have.

“We want to understand what we have internally,” Kraft said.

During his time as Patriots HC, Belichick often chose unconventional ways to do things. He was infamous for being dodgy and mysterious when it came to the media’s questions, and he sometimes made mind-boggling, unforeseeable decisions in the draft. 

This includes when he traded down in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft before selecting offensive guard Cole Strange from UT Chattanooga — a projected Day 3 pick. 

The decision was one that no other NFL coach would have made, and it was so surprising that it forced a laugh out of Rams head coach Sean McVay.

Judging from his first presser, Mayo will employ much more conventional and reassuring tactics when it comes to drafting and discussing roster situations.

Belichick was a phenomenal head coach and will go down as one of the greatest to ever do it, but seeing a coach with normal mannerisms and clear messages take the podium will be refreshing for Patriots fans and players alike.