FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots announced that they have traded TE AJ Derby to the Denver Broncos in exchange for an undisclosed draft selection.
The Patriots also signed DB Shamiel Gary to the practice squad.
Derby, 25, was originally a sixth-round draft pick (202nd overall) in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Arkansas. The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder, suffered an injury in training camp last season and spent his rookie season on injured reserve. Derby played in four games in 2016 on special teams with limited action on offense. He played most of his college career as a quarterback before converting to tight end. Derby played two seasons at Iowa (2010-11) before transferring to Coffeyville Community College (Kan.) as sophomore in 2012 and eventually landing at Arkansas for his final two seasons (2013-14).
Gary, 26, has spent time with New England, Chicago, Miami and Minnesota after originally joining the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Oklahoma State in 2014. The 6-foot-, 217-pounder, spent most of the 2014 season on the Chicago practice squad before joining Miami in 2015. He spent time on both the Miami 53-man roster and practice squad in 2015, seeing action in six games with one start and registering seven total tackles. Gary was released by Miami at the end of training camp in 2016 and spent one week on the Minnesota practice squad.
