This Patriots-Buccaneers Trade for Rob Gronkowski Would Officially Destroy New England's Dynasty
By Michael Luciano
The football world was shocked when New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski walked away from football at age 29 despite clearly having Pro Bowl years left in the tank.
There's still a remote chance the tight end-turned-Wrestlemania champion, who said amid rumors that the Patriots could trade him to the Lions that he would only play if Tom Brady was his quarterback, could come out of retirement. If he does, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should pounce and make a trade with New England to reunite Brady and Gronk.
If Gronkowski wants to play with the Bucs, I'd trade his rights for a 2nd this year and a 3rd next year.
— James Christensen (@NEPatriotsDraft) April 9, 2020
Rob Gronkowski Contract Details
Rob Gronkowski's desire to return for a specific new team, while still under contract, is reminiscent of Marshawn Lynch in 2017. The #Seahawks and #Raiders eventually flopped fifth- and sixth-round picks in the 2018 draft. Last year on Gronk's contract is worth $10 million.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 21, 2020
The Patriots still own Gronkowski's rights, meaning Tampa Bay would need to trade for him. The Bucs would need probably need to part with their second-round pick in order to get the soon-to-be 31-year-old tight end given his production the last few years of his career. You know the Patriots will demand a first, but the Bucs aren't going to give in that easily with OJ Howard on the roster, plus the fact that Gronk won't even want to play for New England.
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Speaking of Howard, perhaps the Bucs can package him with a fourth-rounder to land Gronk. In that scenario, the Patriots would get a starting tight end and another mid-rounder for Belichick to work with.
If Gronk pulls a 180 and comes back, Bucs GM Jason Licht should once again be aggressive and try to get Brady his preferred downfield target in the fold for 2020.
Bucs GM Jason Licht on if Rob Gronkowski would ever be an option: "Well he's doing a pretty good job in Wrestlemania right now. I have no idea if he'd want to play." He said the Patriots still have rights to him.
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) April 9, 2020
Gronkowski is probably going to stay retired considering his wrestling career and business ventures have helped him easily transition to life after football. But if he's planning on shocking the world and linking up with TB12 once again, he isn't going to come cheap.