Ben McAdoo can be an asset in a variety of ways for Patriots, Mayo

The Packers-tilt of the Patriots continued Tuesday as former Giants head coach Ben McAdoo agreed to come aboard Jerod Mayo's staff as a senior offensive assistant.

McAdoo was with the Packers as TEs coach and then QBs from 2006-13.

Eliot Wolf was there 2004-17.

New Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was a Packer 2012-17.

Right now the Patriots' offensive staff is (2023 coach): 

Offensive coordinator: Alex Van Pelt (Bill O'Brien)
Quarterbacks: TBA (O'Brien/Evan Rothstein) — Van Pelt/McAdoo?
Running backs: TBA (Vinnie Sunseri)
Tight ends: TBA (Will Lawing) - McAdoo? But Lawing is a good coach. Would like to see him stick.
Wide receivers: TBA (Troy Brown)
Offensive line: TBA (Adrian Klemm)

Given his background, McAdoo could serve as tight ends or quarterbacks coach. QBs makes the most sense.

Former Packers coaches familiar with the Green Bay trio that would make sense at some of the openings (if they are openings): current Raiders assistant Edgar Bennett (RBs or WRs), James Campen (offensive line), Joe Philbin (OL or TEs).

What are the Patriots getting in McAdoo?

McAdoo, which was a surprise to me, is known from his various stops with the Packers, Giants and Panthers to be an astute talent evaluator, especially with QBs in the draft.

"He's an awesome talent evaluator," said one person who worked with McAdoo. "At all offensive positions."

These are documented facts at the time in regards to his evaluation prowess:

- Went to Patrick Mahomes' pro day as Giants OC and came back to stand on the table for New York to trade up for Mahomes;

- Of the 2018 draft class, he had Josh Allen (7th pick) and Lamar Jackson (32nd) at the top of his list. He had Baker Mayfield (who he coached with the Panthers) as sixth behind Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and Mason Rudolph.

“He’s got an edge to him, I like that. He’s gonna lead, they’re gonna follow him,’’ McAdoo said of Mayfield. “I didn’t see a lot of pro-style football in his college tape. And if you’re short you have to be able to make up for it some way, somehow, and personality doesn’t do that. I didn’t think he was a great athlete. This guy is kinda like a pocket quarterback that is short and with small hands, that’s what I worry about.’’

On Darnold: "I’d just have a hard time drafting a guy in the first round where you don’t necessarily like the way he throws. ... He can overcome it, guys have, but that’s something that’s a challenge for me. I’m gonna be looking at that, trying to fix it, because it’s a fundamental flaw, and I believe in the fundamentals. The quarterback, his No. 1 job is to pass the football. If I don’t like the way he throws the ball, I have a hard time picking him, right?’’

- McAdoo was proven right in his decision bench Eli Manning in 2017, even though it ended McAdoo's time with the Giants. McAdoo was also right that he thought Geno Smith could be the long-term starter after Manning (Smith went on to start for the Seahawks).

- Asked by Panthers reporters about his QB philosophy in regards to the more pro-ready candidates: “I’m a big swing-for-the-fences kind of guy,” McAdoo said. “Just ‘cause you’re ready doesn’t mean you’re gonna be the best. But ready does factor in some scenarios. Experience obviously helps. The more games you play helps.”

The Panthers took Matt Corral in the third round of the 2022 draft.

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McAdoo, despite the picture of him failing with the Giants, is a good coach. In his first year as Giants coach, NY went from 6-10 to 11-5 and won the division. Before Brian Daboll's first season, that was the Giants' only playoff berth in 10 years.

McAdoo had a lot of support on the roster despite the suspensions of Janoris Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (never considered saints). Injuries were the bigger issue (Odell Beckman Jr., Brandon Marshall). 

With the Packers, McAdoo's tight end group was always one of the better positions on the team (Donald Lee, Bubba Franks, Jermichael Finley, Ryan Taylor). And Finley was a talented handful to coach. His career was cut short by injuries.

Aaron Rodgers was 17-8 with 56 TDs, 14 INTs in two years with McAdoo as his OC. Rodgers was limited to nine games in 2013.

As Giants OC, Manning went from 27 INTs the year before McAdoo got there 65 TDs and 28 INTs in the two years they were together. Manning was a Pro Bowler in 2015, the second season.

With the Panthers, McAdoo used three QBs (Mayfield, Darnold, PJ Walker) with distinctly different skill sets to work to an extent (Darnold and Walker were a combined 6-5 after Matt Rhule was fired). The Panthers went from 1-5 to one game out of the playoffs.

I don't know how much McAdoo is going to be an aide to Mayo — that's hard if you don't have a background with each other — but I could see McAdoo and Van Pelt basically running the offensive show together, and I'm fine with that. They're experienced, professional and should be here for a while.