New England Patriots trade for Detroit Lions tight end Michael Roberts
The New England Patriots bolstered their tight end depth chart by acquiring Michael Roberts from the Detroit Lions for a 2020 seventh-round draft pick.
With Benjamin Watson opening up the year on the suspended list for a failed drug test back in March – and Austin Seferian-Jenkins released by the team on the first day of mandatory minicamp – the New England Patriots find themselves as thin at tight end as they’ve been in years.
Of course, it’s all a domino effect from superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski announcing his retirement from the NFL three months ago. The Pats had been cautiously optimistic that Gronk would return for at least one more season, so they must have been as surprised as the rest of us when he posted a heartfelt message on social media thanking the organization, his coaches, his teammates, and his fans… and calling it a career.
With no Gronkowski, no Seferian-Jenkins, and no Watson until at least Week 5, that left the Patriots with just Matt LaCosse, Ryan Izzo, Stephen Anderson, and Andrew Beck at tight end on their current roster.
If you don’t recognize any of those names, you’re forgiven… even the most diehard football fans probably wouldn’t. Of that lackluster group, only LaCosse has legitimate NFL experience as a starter, having played a decent amount of snaps last season with the Denver Broncos.
Never one to sit idly by and watch a problem area worsen, Patriots head coach and general manager Bill Belichick orchestrated a trade on Thursday with the Detroit Lions. For a conditional 2020 seventh-round pick, New England has acquired third-year tight end Michael Roberts.
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A product of the University of Toledo, Roberts was a fourth-round draft pick of the Lions back in 2017. He had a quiet rookie season, playing in 15 of 16 regular season games but only recording four receptions on seven targets for 46 yards that year.
His role increased last season, however, as he drew two starts and played in eight games before finishing the season on injured reserve with a shoulder problem. Roberts was much more productive during that limited span of playing time, though, racking up nine receptions on 20 targets for 100 yards and three touchdowns.