Offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn, a former first-round pick of the New England Patriots, is reportedly joining a team in the AFC East.NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report that Wynn is signing a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, a division rival of the Patriots. ESPN reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques later said a source confirmed the news to him.Wynn, 27, was drafted by the Patriots with the 23rd overall pick in 2018. The University of Georgia product’s rookie season was derailed when he tore his Achilles tendon in the second game of the preseason.In all, Wynn played in 43 of a possible 82 regular-season games during his five seasons in New England, as various injuries kept him sidelined.Before the 2021 season, the Patriots decided to pick up Wynn’s fifth-year option, which paid him a guaranteed $10.4 million for the 2022 season.Wynn was mostly healthy for the 2021 season, playing in 16 of 17 regular-season games with his only miss coming when he landed on the COVID-19 list in Week 5. But the injury bug bit again when he suffered an ankle injury early in the Patriots’ regular-season finale, which was against the Dolphins. That injury kept him from playing in New England’s lone playoff game, a 47-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills.After playing mostly left tackle over his first four NFL seasons, the Patriots moved Wynn to right tackle during training camp before the 2022 season. Wynn struggled on the right side of the line, and he was limited to nine games by a foot injury.The Patriots decided to sign offensive tackles Calvin Anderson and Riley Reiff when free agency began in mid-March and chose to let Wynn enter free agency. New England also selected three offensive linemen in the NFL draft last month.Wynn’s imminent departure means that both of the Patriots’ first-round draft picks in 2018 did not last more than five seasons with the team.New England drafted running back Sony Michel, Wynn’s teammate at Georgia, with the 31st overall pick five years ago.Michel made an impact as a rookie, rushing for a career-high 931 yards along with six touchdowns in 13 regular-season games with eight starts. He did miss three games due to injury, but broke out in the postseason. In three playoff games, he ran for 336 yards and six touchdowns, including the lone touchdown in the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory over the Los Angeles Rams.In 2019, Michel played in all 17 of the team’s games, including one playoff game, and made 14 starts. He ran for 912 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns. But he missed seven games in 2020 due to a quad injury, finishing with 449 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.The Patriots decided not to pick up Michel’s fifth-year option in May 2021 and he was traded to the Rams four months later for two 2022 draft picks, a fifth-rounder and a sixth-rounder.Michel, 28, ran for 845 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games for the 2021 Rams team that won the Super Bowl. He played for the Los Angeles Chargers last season, rushing for 106 yards on 36 carries while appearing in 10 games. Michel is currently a free agent.
Offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn, a former first-round pick of the New England Patriots, is reportedly joining a team in the AFC East.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report that Wynn is signing a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins, a division rival of the Patriots. ESPN reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques later said a source confirmed the news to him.
Wynn, 27, was drafted by the Patriots with the 23rd overall pick in 2018. The University of Georgia product’s rookie season was derailed when he tore his Achilles tendon in the second game of the preseason.
In all, Wynn played in 43 of a possible 82 regular-season games during his five seasons in New England, as various injuries kept him sidelined.
Before the 2021 season, the Patriots decided to pick up Wynn’s fifth-year option, which paid him a guaranteed $10.4 million for the 2022 season.
Wynn was mostly healthy for the 2021 season, playing in 16 of 17 regular-season games with his only miss coming when he landed on the COVID-19 list in Week 5. But the injury bug bit again when he suffered an ankle injury early in the Patriots’ regular-season finale, which was against the Dolphins. That injury kept him from playing in New England’s lone playoff game, a 47-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
After playing mostly left tackle over his first four NFL seasons, the Patriots moved Wynn to right tackle during training camp before the 2022 season. Wynn struggled on the right side of the line, and he was limited to nine games by a foot injury.
The Patriots decided to sign offensive tackles Calvin Anderson and Riley Reiff when free agency began in mid-March and chose to let Wynn enter free agency. New England also selected three offensive linemen in the NFL draft last month.
Wynn’s imminent departure means that both of the Patriots’ first-round draft picks in 2018 did not last more than five seasons with the team.
New England drafted running back Sony Michel, Wynn’s teammate at Georgia, with the 31st overall pick five years ago.
Michel made an impact as a rookie, rushing for a career-high 931 yards along with six touchdowns in 13 regular-season games with eight starts. He did miss three games due to injury, but broke out in the postseason. In three playoff games, he ran for 336 yards and six touchdowns, including the lone touchdown in the Patriots’ Super Bowl victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
In 2019, Michel played in all 17 of the team’s games, including one playoff game, and made 14 starts. He ran for 912 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns. But he missed seven games in 2020 due to a quad injury, finishing with 449 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
The Patriots decided not to pick up Michel’s fifth-year option in May 2021 and he was traded to the Rams four months later for two 2022 draft picks, a fifth-rounder and a sixth-rounder.
Michel, 28, ran for 845 yards and four touchdowns across 17 games for the 2021 Rams team that won the Super Bowl. He played for the Los Angeles Chargers last season, rushing for 106 yards on 36 carries while appearing in 10 games. Michel is currently a free agent.
