After the New England Patriots lost long-time starting left tackle Nate Solder in free agency, they invested heavily in the position: not only did the team acquire Trent Brown via trade from the San Francisco 49ers, it also selected Georgia’s Isaiah Wynn with the 23rd overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. The rookie, however, was forced to miss the entirety of his first season as a pro after tearing his Achilles just nine snaps into his preseason debut.
In 2019, the former first-round draft pick did not only return from his year-long stint on injured reserve but also get inserted right into the starting lineup: with Brown joining the Oakland Raiders as a high-priced free agent, Wynn filled his spot as quarterback Tom Brady’s blindside protector.