A.J. Derby to New England Patriots: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown
In the late rounds of an NFL draft, the New England Patriots typically look for prospects with a specific translatable trait, even if he doesn't have a clear pro fit. In Arkansas tight end A.J. Derby, the Pats have taken another bundle of athleticism who will need significant coaching before he can contribute.
Derby actually started his career as an Iowa linebacker before transferring to Fayetteville to play quarterback. Only during his senior season did Derby finally play tight end, and though he's extremely rough around the edges, there are some intriguing skills that suggest he could be a dangerous receiving "F" tight end down the line.
In a year where many thought the Pats would take a wide receiver and/or running back, a tight end is fittingly their first offensive skill position pick. Let's take a deeper look at what Derby could bring to Foxborough.
What Derby Brings
The 6'4", 255-pound Derby is as athletic as any tight end in this draft, which should hardly come as a surprise given how he's switched positions multiple times in his collegiate career. The general consensus is that despite his inexperience, spending the 202nd overall pick on Derby is a low-risk move with a moderate amount of upside, though he did post impressive per-snap statistics:
In his only season as a tight end, Derby caught 22 passes for 303 yards and three scores, including a 54-yarder against Alabama. Despite totally unrefined route-running, Derby's natural explosiveness allowed him to separate from slower linebackers in coverage, an unteachable skill that gives him a head start over most players learning the position.
Of course, Derby brings nothing as a blocker despite his in-line "Y"-type size. The nuances of blocking, like balance, punching at the point of attack and footwork, are completely lost on him. That's not surprising, though, and Derby will have the entire 2015 campaign to refine his coordination in that area.
Derby was not a team captain unlike virtually every other Patriots draft pick this year, but he does come from a family that bleeds football, as his father, uncle and brother all played at the college and/or NFL level. The Pats have made passion a priority this weekend, and Derby shouldn't be lacking in that department.
How Derby Fits
Some questioned Tim Wright's future on the roster after the Patriots signed Scott Chandler in free agency, and this selection might fuel that speculation. That's probably not true for 2015, however, as Derby is in no position to usurp Wright's roster status in the short term. Given New England's heavy usage of "12" personnel, Derby's selection is probably more about replenishing the pipeline at a premium position.
Long-term, though, Derby could be a Wright replacement if the third-year tight end does not carve out a meaningful role in 2015. The 6'4", 220-pound Wright is smaller than Derby. Yet the latter actually put up identical or better pro day results than Wright, especially in the speed and agility departments (as a side note, neither was invited to the scouting combine):
| Wright | 4.65 | 4.47 | 7.27 |
| Derby | 4.69 | 4.51 | 6.99 |
This suggests that Derby is starting with a superior physical tool kit to Wright and could eventually displace him off the roster if he develops. Of course, Wright himself is an unfinished product, but one could interpret this pick as a sign that the Pats believe Wright's progress stagnated last season.
Derby is no threat to Rob Gronkowski or Chandler obviously, as both possess much more well-rounded skill sets. But considering Gronkowski's checkered injury history, it makes sense that the Patriots would layer the position with more depth behind Wright if they don't necessarily trust him to shine in extended playing time.
Bottom Line
Many believed New England would help Tom Brady with another target, but few considered tight end over running back or wide receiver. Between Derby and the plethora of picks along the front seven, much of the Patriots' draft has centered around reinforcing places of strength rather than fixing some potential depth concerns.
This could be a sign that the Patriots are higher on their internal depth options like Aaron Dobson and Jonas Gray than much of the general public. New England won't have a skill position shortage if its young players progress, but no one really knows how any of those guys will fare if given extended playing time.
Derby's selection won't do much for the Pats in 2015, though he could potentially help out on special teams. His greater upside is on offense, though, and at the end of the draft, he's an interesting gamble at an area few thought the Patriots would target.
.jpg?w=480 "Chiefs Giants Football")
