FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Day 2 of the NFL draft on Friday is expected to be all about the defensive side of the ball for the New England Patriots.

New England has multiple holes that still need to be addressed after it used its two first-round picks on offense. The Patriots got a possible replacement for left tackle Nick Solder by selecting offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn at No. 23. They then added some depth at running back by picking up another Georgia player in Sony Michel at No. 31.

They were just some of several needs for the AFC champions following the departure of a handful of starters in free agency.

According to media reports, the Patriots made a trade with the San Francisco 49ers late Thursday, acquiring offensive lineman Trent Brown and a fifth-round pick (143) for New England’s third round pick (95). The trade is pending the results of a physical. Brown, 6-foot-8, 355 pounds, fills a need for the Patriots even with the selection of Wynn.

That would leave the Patriots with only two picks on Friday, both in the second round (43rd & 63rd). They are likely to use at them to plug holes at linebacker, defensive end or cornerback.

It’s also possible they could use one of their second-round picks to get a young quarterback to develop behind 40-year-old Tom Brady.

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The 6-2, 302-pound Wynn started his college career as a guard but shifted to left tackle as a senior, earning second-team AP All-America honors in 2017. But he said he’s open to playing anywhere on the offensive line at the next level.

“It doesn’t matter where the Patriots put me, I’m ready to contribute any way I can,” Wynn said.

Michel (5-11, 215 pounds) was a dual threat for the Bulldogs, rushing for 1,227 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior in 2017. He averaged 7.9 yards per carry and also had a receiving touchdown. He was one of three running backs taken in first round, joining Saquon Barkley (No. 2 to Giants) and Rashaad Penny (No. 27 to Seattle).

Wynn and Michel join a New England roster that already features two Georgia alums — starting center David Andrews and receiver Malcolm Mitchell.

Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio said there was no hesitation in selecting a running back in the first round. New England hasn’t used a first-round pick on running back since taking Laurence Maroney with the 21st overall pick in 2006. The Patriots lost running back Dion Lewis to Tennessee in free agency.

“Our thing is pick good football players that have good traits. However they get here, they get here,” Caserio said. “There’s no template of how you put it together.”

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Michel does enter the league with some baggage. He has a knee condition that concerned some executives heading into the draft process. He also had 12 career fumbles at Georgia.

Michel said simply that “I’m healthy,” when asked about his knee.

He said the fumble issue is something he plans to correct.

“It’s all about being aware of how I carry the football,” he said. “Ball placement. It’s something I should focus on and work on.”

Wynn is recovering from tearing the labrum in his shoulder back in November. He had surgery on it in January and said he’s “right on track for recovery.” He expects to be ready for mini-camp in June.

Wynn would seem to be undersized as a tackle at the NFL level, though he could be an option to replace left tackle Nate Solder, who signed with the New York Giants.

Patriots starting right guard Shaq Mason is also entering the final year of his rookie contract and will become an unrestricted free agent following the upcoming season. With Mason expected to garner a lot of interest in the free agency market in 2019, this could be a preemptive move on the part of Bill Belichick to get someone in the pipeline now.

The Patriots have started rookies up front before — left guard Joe Thuney started 16 games in his first year in 2016.

Wynn’s selection was part of a run on offensive linemen in the first round Thursday night. Six linemen were selected before the first wide receiver — Maryland’s D.J. Moore — came off the board at No. 24.


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