The greatest tight end the Patriots have ever had is following Tom Brady out of New England to Tampa Bay to be a Buccaneer.
After reports from The Boston Herald, ESPN, and the NFL Network began circulating on Tuesday afternoon that Rob Gronkowski told the Patriots he wanted to be traded to Tampa Bay to reunite with Brady, Jay Glazer reported the deal was all-but done.
Just heard from Gronk, already took his physical for Bucs, trade not completed but he’s coming back for Bucs if all goes through.
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 21, 2020
Bucs close to getting Gronk @RobGronkowski tells me. Bucs waiting on word of physical. Still thinks to iron out but should be good within 24 hours @NFLonFOX
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 21, 2020
Gronk has now passed his physical. Trade is for him and 7th for Bucs fourth-round selection.
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) April 21, 2020
Glazer worked with Gronkowski at FOX and would theoretically be in a pretty good position to get intel from the 30-year-old athlete. Reporting for ESPN, Adam Schefter said the Patriots will be getting a fourth-round pick in exchange for Gronkowski and a seventh-round pick. He also offered some further details and confirmation about the deal from agent Drew Rosenhaus.
Trade, pending physical: Patriots are trading TE Rob Gronkowski and a seventh-round pick to the Buccaneers for a fourth-round pick, source tells ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020
And further confirmation from Rob Gronkowski’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, who texted ESPN: “Pending the physical, Rob has agreed to play for Tampa this season. He will honor his current contract at this time.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020
Tampa Bay was the only place that Rob Gronkowski wanted it was willing to play, per league source. So if Gronkowski passes his physical, he will get his wish.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020
The fourth-rounder will be either the 117th or 139th overall pick, giving the Patriots 13 selections in the upcoming draft, second-most in the league.
Once the deal is officially completed, Tampa Bay will reinstate Gronkowski, and his $10 million base salary will immediately count against Tampa’s cap sheet. Gronkowski’s contract has one year remaining on it.
Gronkowski has left the door open to a return to the NFL several times since retiring, most recently during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Monday. “I’m feeling good right now,” Gronkowski said when asked about coming out of retirement. “I’m happy where I’m at, and you just never know man. You just never know. You never know. I’m not totally done. I like to stay in shape.”
Related: Rob Gronkowski: Football Was Taking the Joy Out of My Life
Bill Belichick tried to trade Gronkowski in the past, but had a trade ahead of the 2018 draft that would have sent him to the Detroit Lions for a draft pick fall through because Gronk threatened to retire.
The reason for the retirement threat was Gronkowski wasn’t willing to play with another quarterback.
“[Tom] Brady’s my quarterback. That’s all,” Gronkowski said months later. “Wasn’t going anywhere without Brady.”
After being drafted by New England in 2010, Gronkowski won a trio of Super Bowls with Brady and the Patriots.
In Tampa Bay, he’ll join a talented tight end group that already includes OJ Howard and Cameron Brate.
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