The New England Patriots have reportedly traded second-year running back Pierre Strong Jr. to the Cleveland Browns for veteran offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the news on Sunday.
The Patriots clearly needed offensive tackle depth given the way the unit struggled throughout the preseason. Wheatley went undrafted in 2020, and this will be his third NFL team after spending time with the Browns and Chicago Bears.
So even though he’s a veteran by definition, he’s still considered as more of a developmental option offensive lineman. He has yet to appear in a regular season game in either one of his previous two stops.
Trade: The #Patriots have traded RB Pierre Strong Jr to the #Browns in exchange for OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr., sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 27, 2023
Strong’s exit possibly paves the way for Ty Montgomery, Kevin Harris or maybe even J.J. Taylor to earn a spot on the final roster.
Injuries have derailed Montgomery in back-to-back training camps, but there’s no denying he’s the third-most talented player all-around on the depth chart.
Harris would be a bit redundant for what the team already has in Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott, but Taylor, who had a great preseason run, could add another element with his speed, versatility and shifty footwork.
