New England Patriots offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr. officially signed his exclusive rights free agent tender on Friday, per the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.
Wheatley was part of the trade that sent Pierre Strong Jr. to the Cleveland Browns in August 2023. He played in two games on special teams. His season was cut short in October after being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. He was eligible to be activated in December, but ultimately, he was not activated by the team.
Wheatley will be able to work under offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. He has some familiarity with both Van Pelt and offensive line coach Scott Peters, when all of their paths crossed during his time in Cleveland.
Patriots OT Tyrone Wheatley signed his ERFA tender, per source. Officially back in New England on a one-year deal.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) March 8, 2024
This may be an under-the-radar move, but it could prove to be important, as New England struggled with offensive line depth throughout the 2023 season. At the very least, New England was able to strike a deal before free agency begins in full on March 13.
