DALLAS (105.3 The Fan) - Per a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, the New England Patriots are traded formerly retired Rob Gronkowski to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a fourth-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
The Buccaneers had been connected to trade rumors involving incumbent tight end O.J. Howard earlier in the week, and that seems even more likely now with the former Patriot joining the Tampa Bay roster.
Gronkowski has been in retirement since the 2018 season but had previously stated an apparent change of heart towards that on Monday.
"The day that I retired, within 24 hours there was already rumors that I was coming out of retirement," he told Andy Cohen Monday. "I'm feeling good right now, 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, but I've got to get that feeling back."
In his final season in New England in 2018, Gronk played in 13 games, catching 47 passes for 682 yards and three touchdowns. However, the oft-injured tight end has not played a full 16-game season since his sophomore NFL season in 2011.
Gronkowski had been noted of his intentions to never play for another quarterback other than Tom Brady, and now that Brady is in Tampa Bay, it seems he aims to keep it that way in 2020.
