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Michael Roberts will not be a New England Patriot. After the Detroit Lions failed to trade him to the reigning NFL Champions, they decided to waive him, making him available to any team willing to put a claim on him.
According to the NFL transaction wire (and first reported by Dov Kleiman), the Green Bay Packers have claimed the Lions 2017 fourth-round pick.
Source: #Packers signed TE Michael Roberts via claim from the #Lions waiver wire.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 17, 2019
Roberts was previously traded to the #Patriots for a 7th round pick but the deal fall after he failed his physical.
The Packers had the 12th highest priority on waivers, meaning that at least 11 teams passed on Roberts (including the Lions).
Detroit waived Roberts after two ineffective years with the Lions. This offseason, Detroit added Jesse James as a high-priority free agent and drafted T.J. Hockenson in the first round. Additionally, it appears they are high on Logan Thomas, who converted to the tight end position from quarterback. Thomas spent some time with the Lions back in 2016, but spent the past two years with the Bills, accumulating 19 catches and 144 yards in 24 games.
Roberts, who has only hauled in 13 catches for 146 yards in two seasons, will now join a Packers team that drafted tight end Jace Sternberger in the third round this year and still has Jimmy Graham and Marcedes Lewis. Roberts still has his work cut out for him to make their roster.