The Broncos traded a 2017 fifth-round draft pick to the Patriots Tuesday for veteran tight end A.J. Derby, Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post reports. To clear a spot on the 53-man roster, the Broncos released veteran safety Shiloh Keo.
Derby, 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, was a 2015 sixth-round draft pick out of Arkansas and has played in four games for the Patriots this season in a total of 35 offensive plays and 32 special-teams plays. He hasn’t recorded a catch.
“A.J. is a young tight end who can help us immediately,” Broncos general manager John Elway said via the team’s website. “He has tremendous upside and will fit in well on our team.”