Reaction to the Derby Trade: Absolutely Puzzling Move by Belichick

There is no love stronger than that binky love. BB is just doing this to send a message to PatsFans.com.

I'm cool with the trade. Have to create some roster space due to players coming off PUP. Develin can provide some backup TE coverage. Get a fifth rounder back for someone who is about to be cut. What's not to like? Denver gets an offensive prospect, but no team is static in the NFL, especially the dynamically managed Broncos. These guys will pick up players. Doubt that Derby will be a difference maker in our match ups.

PittPatriot said:

I was just commenting on what a TE in Kubiak's system can do against a great team like the Pats. Perhaps Derby was evaluated to be "not good enough" to handle a difficult system like ours (it has been said over and over the hardest offensive position on the Patriots after QB is TE). That does not mean he can't excel in Denver. After all, he played very well in the preseason based on leaping catches, strong hands, etc.

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Sure he can excel in Denver. But I highly doubt it won't be against collins, hightower, roberts. He might get his catches or even TDs but if the difference between a win and a loss is AJ fecking Derby, then we have bigger problems on our team.

Belichick trading AJ Derby to anyone for a 5th round pick is really good value. I'm STUNNED that anyone here thinks this is a bad move.

Turns a 6th into a 5th with only a few games on the resume....works for me.

Off The Grid said:

Hah!! Still got my Trophy, Baby!! Champion!!

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Oh, man....

I was "the kid" whose dad was never around, so my pinewood derby car was basically just a block of wood with wheels. No paint, no numbers--just a big old, slow ass, block of wood right out of the box.

Sorry about not having a dad Supafly! But glad you had that derby car!

JPPT1974 said:

Sorry about not having a dad Supafly! But glad you had that derby car!

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Ha! I'm over here whining about the lack of male presence in my childhood, but knowing @Off The Grid, he probably just hand whittled his derby car out of an oak tree that he chopped down in his backyard.

Luckily for me, I was able to develop a decent relationship with my dad later in life before he passed, so he's off the hook for the pinewood derby mishap.

patsox23 said:

Belichick trading AJ Derby to anyone for a 5th round pick is really good value. I'm STUNNED that anyone here thinks this is a bad move.

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I agree with your take, as well. That said, I can appreciate why fans would be surprised, particularly with the specific trade partner. As I stated earlier in the thread, I'm guessing that it was just too good of a deal to pass up, but that's just my opinion of course.

A aspect no one is talking about remains the persistent long view of the front office aspect of this team. Is there ever a time that side of the football operations are not trying to ensure their draft pick numbers are up to at least the minimum seven overall picks (although usually not the allotted 1, 2, 3, 4... but an eclectic mix of 1, 2, 2, 5, 5, 7, 7 or something)? If they pull off another trade before the deadline and it doesn't involve picks that 5th could turn into a different 5th and a 7th in 2018 or something similar.

It's a hallmark - this team tends to maximize its future resources wherever possible - even within division or conference. If they can get a something versus a nothing, they frequently take the something.

AtomicDawg said:

I feel like I should share this Tweet from Mike Lombardi here:



If his sources in Foxboro think this isn't a big deal, then why do we?

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Because some of the people here think they have a better grasp on the potential of a player just based on some All22 preseason action than an amazingly successful coaching staff of a professional football team based on months of almost daily exposure.

And I am not even sure if half of the people that I am talking about know what all22 footage means.

I expect no one but Denver was willing to give up a 5th. Since they are a rival, the price was higher for them.

Some Denver fans think this is a brilliant move.... by Belichick..

Belichick draftes Derby with a 6th in 2014... Kid is mostly injured since being here. Then Belichick gives up a 6th and a 4th for Bennett... (a pretty good TE) then trades Derby for a 5th. (when he was a 6th, and has done nothing yet)

I actually don't know if any of that data is accurate, just got it off a Broncos message board.

nabwong said:

Sure he can excel in Denver. But I highly doubt it won't be against collins, hightower, roberts...

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Why not? Collins, Hightower & Roberts aren't very good at covering TEs (& RBs).

captain stone said:

Why not? Collins, Hightower & Roberts aren't very good at covering TEs (& RBs).

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I would say they are at least average if not above average. But this is AJ Derby we're talking about.

patsox23 said:

Belichick trading AJ Derby to anyone for a 5th round pick is really good value. I'm STUNNED that anyone here thinks this is a bad move.

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Next year we can trade our 6th round pick for a 2019 5th, except we need to coach a player up and hold a roster spot for two years, then give him away.

That doesn't sound so great.

Here's a good stat from PFF for once:
Derby has played 33 snaps this season. He run blocked on 28, pass blocked on 1, and ran just 4 routes. If they were ready to give up on his potential receiving upside, then it makes way more sense to fill that role right now with a better blocker. I assume that's what they had in mind with Scruggs, but now the only real candidate is Fleming. Wouldn't surprise me if they make a trade for a tight end next week.

(Official stats say he has 35 snaps, so I assume there were two kneeldowns in there or something.)

Ian said:

My biggest issue is just the fact that they don't have another pass-catching threat behind either of those two if - God forbid - either gets hurt.

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????

If either Gronk or Bennett can't play, I would be playing Fleming in 2 TE sets, NOT Derby. Or I'd be playing Develin.

Both TE's don't need to be pass-catching threats. We would just play more 3 WR sets.

I'm happy to get a 5th for a player that I thought wouldn't (and shouldn't) make the 53.

If a 3rd TE is needed, I would try to sign away Beau Sandland from Carolina's PS.