Broncos acquire tight end from Patriots

With the NFL’s trade deadline rapidly approaching, the Denver Broncos reportedly have struck a deal with the rival New England Patriots. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Broncos have agreed to send a 2017 fifth-round draft pick to New England in exchange for tight end A.J. Derby.

“A.J. is a young tight end who can help us immediately,” vice president of football operations/general manager John Elway said in a release from the team. “He has tremendous upside and will fit in well on our team.”

For those unfamiliar with Derby, he was a 2015 sixth-round selection by the Patriots. A 6-foot-5, 255-pound tight end out of Arkansas, Derby only began playing the tight end position late in his college career after being a backup quarterback. He has appeared in four games this year but had yet to register a catch.

From the Broncos perspective, this is the second consecutive year they’ve used the trade deadline to shore up the tight end position, trading for Vernon Davis last season. A position that has been in flux all year as injuries have slowed the trio of Virgil Green, Jeff Heuerman, and John Phillips, the addition of Darby brings more flexibility to the position should the injury bug continue to linger.

Despite his lack of production, Derby was considered an intriguing prospect coming out of college because of his athleticism and natural receiving skills. Because of his lack of playing time at the position, he has been a slow-developing prospect for the Patriots and became expendable this season with the addition of Martellus Bennett.

The team released safety Shiloh Keo to make room for Derby on the 53-man roster.