FOXBORO — Isaiah Wynn doesn’t fit the mold when it comes to playing tackle. He’s undersized at 6-foot-3 and that’s why draft experts projected him as a guard. It's also one reason why some people were surprised the Patriots selected him with the 23rd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.


 


When you think about the Patriots last two mainstays at left tackle — size seemed to factor into the equation. Nate Solder stood 6-8 while Matt Light [...]

Mark Daniels

FOXBORO — Isaiah Wynn doesn’t fit the mold when it comes to playing tackle. He’s undersized at 6-foot-3 and that’s why draft experts projected him as a guard. It's also one reason why some people were surprised the Patriots selected him with the 23rd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

 

When you think about the Patriots last two mainstays at left tackle — size seemed to factor into the equation. Nate Solder stood 6-8 while Matt Light was 6-5.

 

Wynn simply doesn’t measure up, and Dante Scarnecchia couldn’t care less.

 

The Patriots offensive line coach not only thinks the Patriots first-round pick can play tackle, but says Wynn will battle to replace Solder from the get-go. The rookie will have to beat out veteran Trent Brown (6-8), but it’s clear that Scarnecchia doesn’t give a damn about the ‘mold.’ He’s also looking forward to the competition that’s about to happen.

 

“I think this — what’s the mold? So somebody tell me what the mold looks like and if you only draft that mold, I’m not sure that’s the smartest thing to do,” Scarnecchia said. “You know, we like all the guys we’ve got. We’re going to give specifically Isaiah a chance to play left tackle. We’re going to give him a chance to play guard. We’re going to move Trent from the right side to the left side. From the left side to the right side. We’re going to see what it looks like and that’s what training camp and preseason is for.”

 

Scarnecchia has been coaching the Patriots offensive line since 1999 — the season before Bill Belichick was hired. Over the last 19 years, he’s only had three full-time left tackles in Solder, Light and Bruce Armstrong. This year, marks the first time in over 20 years when the Patriots don’t know in the spring who their projected starter is.

 

The truth is, they probably won’t have a good idea of who makes up their entire starting offensive line until the late summer. At the moment, Marcus Cannon (ankle), Joe Thuney (foot), Brown (shoulder) and Wynn (shoulder) are all dealing with injuries.

 

“Honest to God truth, I look at it all right now to a degree as a blessing,” Scarnecchia said. “So yeah, alright, so we don’t have those guys for OTAs and all that. Well someone else is going to be there. We’re going to see what they do and maybe that makes us better in the long run. Maybe that gives a guy that normally won’t get those reps because those guys are in there and we’ll see what he’s made of. That’s what we’re going to deal with. Hey, sign me up, I don’t mind it. That’s the job.”

 

In the event everyone is healthy, Scarnecchia made it clear that he wants to keep Cannon at right tackle and liked the continuity on the inside of his offensive line with Thuney (left guard), David Andrews (center) and Shaq Mason (right guard). Of course, there will be a competition. That’s how Scarnecchia likes it. He says his goal is to “find the five best guys you’ve got and put them out there, man.”

 

His words about Wynn and Brown were telling. It’s clear that even though the two newcomers haven’t played a game for the Patriots, the team sees them as the leaders for a left tackle competition that also includes LaAdrian Waddle, Matt Tobin, Ulrick John, Cole Croston and Andrew Jelks.

 

With Wynn, Scarnecchia was very impressed with the All-American’s performance last season for Georgia. He says the rookie has the three traits the Patriots look for in their offensive linemen. It’ll be up to him to break the "mold" and earn that starting job.

 

“Really good player in the best conference in America. He’s a REALLY good player in the best conference in America at his position,” Scarnecchia said. “He’s played left tackle and he’s played guard. So, that’s what I like about him. He’s smart. He’s as tough as they come. He played the whole year with a bad shoulder. He’s got great traits. Look, we look for great traits — smart, tough and athletic enough to play the position and he’s got all three. We’ll see if that translates to this level.”