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UPDATE: According to Adam Schefter, the trade — pending a physical — will see a 4th-round pick go to the Patriots in exchange for Rob Gronkowski and a 7th-round pick.
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
Original Article:
After weeks and months of speculation about the football future of Rob Gronkowski, NFL Network reporter Ian Rapoport has confirmed the future Hall of Fame tight end’s interest in joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, saying the former New England Patriot has been putting on weight in an effort to get into football shape.
Additionally, Rapoport says that newly signed quarterback Tom Brady wants his old New England buddy to join him on the Bucs squad as well.
#Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has, in fact, begin putting on weight for a return to football, sources say. He’s ready. He wants to return. And Tom Brady wants him back for the #Bucs, too.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 21, 2020
Following Rapoport’s new, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Bucs and Patriots have been discussing a trade for the retired tight end, who still has one-year and $10 million on his contract. Schefter added that the two teams have been talking “prior” to the NFL Draft on Thursday and continue to do so currently.
Patriots and Buccaneers have been discussing a trade for retired TE Rob Gronkowski, per league sources. Gronkowski has one year and $10 million left on his contract. But the two sides are, and have been talking, prior to Thursday’s draft.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020
The 2020 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday, April 23 at 8 p.m. EST, will air on ESPN as teams make their picks from their homes via live stream. The Patriots currently have the 23rd overall pick in the first round, while the Tampa Bay Bucs own the 14th pick in the first round.
Gronk, who is still just 30-years-old, “retired” from the National Football League in 2018. Drafted in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft, the University of Arizona product won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and is widely considered to be one of the greatest tight ends of all-time.
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