New England Patriots: 3 biggest ‘what ifs?’ in recent draft history
By Mike Luciano
2. Drafting Isaiah Wynn 23rd overall in 2018
Wynn was one of two Georgia Bulldogs that Belichick took in the first round in 2018, as running back Sony Michel also came up north to Foxborough. While Michel has taken his fair share of criticism, he was at least a driving offensive force on a championship team, while Wynn has struggled to stay healthy.
Wynn’s college issues followed him to the pros, as he missed the entire 2018 season and has played in just 18 of a potential 48 games since being drafted. He has had some quality moments on the field, but those moments have not come frequently enough.
The Patriots passed on some stars in the NFL Draft for Isaiah Wynn.
Examining the next 20 picks after Wynn shows what a rough selection this is turning out to be. Not only did skill position stars like Nick Chubb and DJ Moore come after Wynn, but so did a defensive leader in Darius Leonard.
Perhaps most glaring, 2019 MVP Lamar Jackson, who could’ve been an ideal Tom Brady successor, was still on the board.
Wynn still has plenty of time to turn things around in New England, as he will be the team’s starting left tackle this season. However, the best ability in the NFL is availability, and while Wynn has had his moments on the field, he hasn’t put together a long enough history of success to convince Belichick that he can be relied on for a full 17 games.