The Patriots traded running back Pierre Strong to the Browns for backup offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr., a source confirmed to the Herald’s Doug Kyed.

Strong, a 2022 fourth-round pick, fell behind fellow second-year running back Kevin Harris on the depth chart during training camp. He was a projected roster cut this summer, after failing to show much improvement or make an impact as a rookie. Last season, Strong ran just 10 times for 100 yards and a touchdown.

The Patriots drafted Strong out of South Dakota State for his rare long speed (4.3 in the 40-yard dash), hoping he would develop, as so many mid-round picks have, into a viable back on passing downs. Instead, he became the last running back to see reps in practice recently after Rhamondre Stevenson, Ezekiel Elliott, Harris and J.J. Taylor

In Cleveland, Wheatley got stuck behind starters Jedrick Willis, Jack Conklin, fourth-round rookie Dawand Jones and projected swing tackle James Hudson III. Through two preseason games, he played 61 snaps at left tackle and 37 at right tackle, per Pro Football Focus. Wheatley helped stave off two of the best defensive lines in the league, Washington and Philadelphia, posting an elite 95.6 run-blocking grade and 97.6 pass-blocking efficiency, both metrics scored out of 100.

Wheatley spent most of last season on the Browns’ practive squad. He stands at 6-foot-6, 320pounds. He entered the league as an undrafted rookie out of Stony Brook in 2020, and is the son of former NFL running back Tyrone Wheatley.

At worst, Wheatley Jr. should provide solid, ascending depth at positions of vital need for the Patriots. Mac Jones was pressured on more than 40% of his dropbacks in last week’s exhibition at Green Bay, the only preseason game Jones played.

The NFL Network first reported the trade.