Three weeks after the departure of college scouting director Camren Williams, the New England Patriots have found his successor. Tony Kinkela, who had been a national scout for the team the last three seasons, has been promoted to the vacant position.
Let’s assess what the move means for the organization from a big-picture perspective.
Stability in the scouting department
From vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden to director of pro scouting A.J. Highsmith, the Patriots’ previous personnel department hires this offseason were all about an infusion of outside perspective. The decision to promote Kinkela does not follow that trend, and in turn ensures a level of stability in the college scouting department.
As noted above, after all, he had spent the last three seasons in New England and stayed on the team’s staff through the transition from Bill Belichick to Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel. After previously working under Camren Williams, he will now get the opportunity to run the Patriots’ college scouting himself.
Whether that results in any fundamental change in the way the team scouts players is doubtful, though.
The scouting system already changed when Wolf took over last offseason. The scouts themselves, meanwhile, will still be tasked with analyzing players within it based on their fit for the coach and quasi-GM’s vision for the team.
Experience matters
Besides spending the previous three years as a national scout, Kinkela also brings extensive experience from his previous career stops. Between 2009 and 2021, he worked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; he first worked as a Combine scout for the club and assisted the league in selecting invitees, before spending 11 years as an area scout.
Before moving to the NFL, Kinkela served as director of football operations at Tulane (2006-08) as well as assistant director of football operations at Washington State (2004-05). He also was a student assistant for the Cougars between 2001 and 2004.
Given his background both at the pro and the college level, it is not hard to see why the Patriots’ decision makers felt he offers the expertise and personal network needed for a more prominent role on staff.
First shoe to drop
With Kinkela moving up the organizational ladder, the Patriots will have a spot to fill one level below; he previously served as one of three national scouts and was responsible for the West Coast.
Nothing has been made official yet, but don’t be surprised if J.T. Hill gets the promotion to fill Kinkela’s old spot and join current national scouts Tucker Ingraham and Matt Evans. Hill, who arrived in New England in 2022, most recently worked as west area scout.
That position, meanwhile, will be filled by former scouting assistant Landon Simpson moving forward.
