The Patriots have made a trade ahead of Tuesday's cutdown day.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, New England has traded running back Pierre Strong Jr. to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
The Patriots drafted Strong out of South Dakota State in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The speedster ran the fastest 40-yard dash in his class but failed to break through in a running back room that now consists of Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott.
In exchange for Strong, New England adds Tyrone Wheatley Jr., a 6-foot-6 tackle who went undrafted out of Stony Brook in 2020. Their offensive line room has both struggled on the field and struggled to stay healthy this preseason, so Wheatley brings depth, despite never having played in an NFL game while spending time with the Bears, Raiders, and Browns.
The Browns must cut down their roster to 53 players by Tuesday at 4 p.m.