One of the more unfortunate patterns throughout Bill Belichick's time as the Patriots' head coach was a list of draft busts, or, at the very least, disappointing draft picks, which became an unforgettable part of his legacy. The Patriots' roster became the victim because of it, as it seemed more often than not, the newest players didn't live up to the belief from the head coach.
That could be said about former first-round selection in 2018, Isaiah Wynn, who was supposed to be a big part of the team's offensive line improvement from day one. He was considered a reach by Belichick, which he had a habit of doing, and the Patriots eventually paid for the overreach.
Although he remained with the team for the first four years of his career, his play fluctuated during that time, and deciding to keep him on the roster in 2021 was a widely criticized decision by Belichick. His play has rapidly declined since then, especially in the 2024 season, when he played in just three games and earned a measly 32.5 pass blocking grade from PFF. This could ultimately force him to sit out the 2025 season, and possibly beyond.
Isaiah Wynn could be on the outside looking in during the 2025 season
Since the Patriots chose not to re-sign Wynn after the 2022 season, he has spent the last two years in the AFC East with the Dolphins. Given that he was a former first-round pick, there was some suggestion that perhaps a change of scenery could be good for Wynn, but his performance only got worse with less time on the field over the last two years.
Battling constant injuries and not beating out his immediate competition led to the guard only suiting up for the Dolphins in 13 games over the last two seasons, with just ten starts. It resulted in unimpressive showings, earning embarrassing overall grades as a result, and now he's still looking for a team to sign with as training camp approaches.
Given how crucial a stable offensive line is for every NFL team, most already have their starting group ready to go for Week 1. There are still some moves to be made if standout players become available, but Wynn does not fall into that category.
This could mean that he might not play another snap in the league at just 29 years old, which is quite a fall from where he was drafted and the initial support from Belichick.
There's a chance he will find a backup role somewhere, as injuries can happen at any time. However, his recent performances leave much to be desired, on top of his bad luck with injuries, which likely rule out many potential suitors. So Wynn could find himself missing the upcoming season, if not more.