A.J. Derby

Derby was a backup quarterback at Arkansas until converting to tight end as a senior. He nabbed just 22 passes before being selected in the sixth round of the 2015 draft by New England. The likes of Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett prevented him from seeing the field, but his 15-catch 2016 preseason was impressive enough for Denver to trade for him mid-season, handing over a fifth-round pick in exchange. Derby caught 14 passes from Weeks 12 through 15 before a concussion ended his season. Entering just his fourth season at the position, Derby is still likely to be rough around the edges, but he's Denver's most appealing athlete at the position, having run a 4.69-second 40-yard dash and 6.99- second three-cone drill at his pro-day while weight 255 pounds. By comparison, David Njoku, the freakishly-athletic 2017 first-rounder ran a 4.64 in the 40-yard dash and posted a 6.97-second three-cone drill at 246 pounds. While Virgil Green, Jeff Heuerman, and rookie Jake Butt duke it out for the in-line spot, Derby is the clear favorite as the flex tight end -- a position that saw plenty of action in San Diego during current offensive coordinator Mike McCoy's time as the Chargers' head coach.

Derby, who was a sixth-round selection last year, ended up on injured reserve for his first season with New England. Now healthy, he's figures to battle Clay Harbor for the team's No. 3 tight end job behind Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett.

Derby, a late sixth-round draft pick this year, was waived/injured by the Patriots in August.