The Detroit Lions announced Thursday that they’ve struck a deal with their favorite trading partner, the New England Patriots to send tight end Michael Roberts to the fighting Bill Belichick’s for a conditional seventh round draft pick in 2020.
The former fourth round pick out of Toledo for the Lions in 2017 showed some promise but was ultimately hampered by health and consistency issues resulting in just 146 yards and three touchdowns over the course of his first two seasons in the NFL. To add, Roberts also found himself buried on the depth chart this offseason after the Lions signed Jesse James to a contract and used their first overall pick on T.J. Hockenson. Detroit also also added Logan Thomas and seventh-rounder Isaac Nauta this offseason which rounded up any projects they may have in place for tight ends in 2019.
Despite the struggles, the 6-foot-6, 265-pound Roberts has shown some potential as a red zone threat which is probably why the Patriots didn’t hesitate in using a late round pick on him. It’s a chance they took on Kyle Van Noy, another Lions cast off which seemed to work out pretty well for that Pats defense.
UPDATE: The deal that sent TE Michael Roberts to the Patriots for a conditional seventh round draft pick in 2020 was nixed due to Roberts failing his physical with New England. As a result, Roberts was sent back to Detroit where he was subsequently released by them.
