After weeks of speculation, Rob Gronkowski is making his return to the NFL and has been traded from the Patriots to the Buccaneers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to make waves this offseason as news has recently surfaced that Rob Gronkowski is looking to come out of retirement. His preferred playing destination? Tampa Bay alongside Tom Brady.
First reported by NFL Insider Leroy back at the start of April, Ian Rapoport was able to confirm the news today on Twitter that Gronkowski officially wants back to the NFL.
Sources: Retired #Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has told New England that he’s interested in playing football again — and would want to do it with the #Bucs and QB Tom Brady. A trade would have to be worked out for this to happen.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 21, 2020
The Patriots still own Gronk’s contract, but this would be a very quick and easy solve for both teams involved.
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The biggest reason why this would be such a simple move for both parties is that the Patriots will do whatever they can to get something out of Gronkowski’s premature retirement. If the Buccaneers were to offer anything, New England would be motivated to sell regardless of the price.
Even a late-round pick makes sense for the Patriots in this situation because they are currently getting nothing. If Gronkowski only wants to play in Tampa Bay and the Patriots try to trade him somewhere else, all he has to do is retire again.
The Patriots have no leverage over the situation, and Gronk primarily has complete control over his ultimate destination.
The Buccaneers are set to trade New England a fourth-round pick for Gronkowski and a seventh according to Adam Schefter. Things are moving quickly and the deal could officially be done soon.
What this almost assuredly means is that O.J. Howard is done in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers will likely move Howard for draft picks or as a mean to trade up in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Bucs have set themselves up to make two of their biggest free-agent signings in franchise history all within the same year. The likelihood of this deal is at an all-time high, and the Buccaneers could recreate one of the best tight end-quarterback connections in league history in Tampa Bay.