Ahhh, that sly Eliot Wolf.

You had to think his “We’re open for business” line last week was typical GM speak, but ohhhh did it cause a stir prior to Thursday night’s round one of the NFL Draft.

There will be reports this team offered that, that team offered this, etc. etc. The buzz was just ridiculous in the months, weeks, days and even hours leading up to the draft. Social media has created a monster in terms of unconfirmed rumors over the years. Weren’t the Patriots once in love with Jared Stidham?

In this draft, it was pretty obvious, yet Wolf had fun with it. The Patriots were picking third in a draft that had three top quarterbacks. They needed a franchise QB, the owner said.

Gee, what was the de facto GM going to do?

Other options weren’t really options. Maye or Jayden Daniels. J.J. Who?

“That (not taking Maye) wasn’t really something that came up,” Wolf said. “We knew a long time ago that Washington was going with Daniels so we were able to make our pick, and we’re really happy about that.”

How long ago?

“Weeks,” he said.

Joke’s on us.

Oh, and then there’s the big question of whether Maye will start right away. Hmmm, aren’t there a couple of other QBs in the room? Isn’t there an entire off-season of workouts, OTAs, rookie camp, mini camp, training camp, summer camp, to go? Please, can we let things play out on the field?

“We’re not sitting here saying that Drake is our starting quarterback,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said. “I think he understands that. He understands the things that he has to get better at. With coaching and once again the hard work and the coaches that we have, the support system from ownership, I think he has a chance to go out there and really — to really play at a high level.

“You can talk about potential all you want to. Until you reach it, it really doesn’t matter. We did know the man; we know the man is a hard worker, and he’s going to do everything he can to be successful.”

Maye is colorful. He’s a kid, bouncing off the walls playing a game. But Wolf also liked some intangibles, such as how he handled the media.

“Yeah, he was one of the only quarterbacks in this draft that went up there after every loss and handled the media,” Wolf said. “Not that the Chapel Hill media is as tough as you guys are, but he handled it with grace, with class. Watching those press conferences, there were a lot of times where the reporters were trying to get him to throw somebody under the bus, and he wouldn’t do it. He’s a 21-year-old kid, but he’s very mature and understands what it means to be a leader.”

“That’s a huge part of being a quarterback, you’re the face of the team, they look to you,” Maye said. “Genuine relationships, that’s what I feed off of. Just stay humble.”

You can see why Wolf and Mayo like this kid.

“I hate losing. I hate losing at anything I do,” he said. ” (I’m) a competitor and a winner. Competing to win, that’s what Patriots Nation is all about, and I’m ready to do that.”

Wolf was asked if he slept well on Wednesday night.

“Yes,” he said. “Pretty well, actually.”

Gotta love it.

Tom King may be reached at X @Telegraph_TomK, or via email at tking@nashuatelegraph.com