The Detroit Lions are trading backup tight end Michael Roberts to the New England Patriots. According to a report from Justin Rogers of the Detroit News, the Lions will ship Roberts to the Patriots for a conditional late-round pick in a year not specified yet.
Roberts was Detroit’s fourth-round pick in 2017 out of Toledo, where he led the NCAA in touchdown receptions by a tight end. A big body with soft hands, it just did not click for Roberts with the Lions. He battled an injury and simply was not athletic enough to handle the route-running and blocking assignments in the Detroit offense.
The Lions signed Jesse James and Logan Thomas in free agency as well as drafting T.J. Hockenson and Isaac Nauta in an overhaul of the TE room. The transformation is now complete with Roberts’ departure.