Lions Gave Pats First-Round Pick In Gronk Trade That Wasn't: Report

What would it have cost the Lions to acquire Rob Gronkowski in 2018? 

Frank Ragnow, in essence. 

Before Gronkowski nixed the trade that sent him to Detroit almost two years ago to the day, the Lions had agreed to send the Patriots their first-round pick, according to Adam Schefter. The teams also would have swapped second-round picks -- which they wound up doing anyway on Day 2 of that year's draft. 

Detroit ultimately drafted Ragnow No. 20 overall, and it looks like a pretty good move in hindsight. After spending his rookie season at guard, Ragnow flourished last season at his natural position of center. He's started all but one game through two years and should be a mainstay on the offensive line for years to come. 

As for the second-round picks, the swap occurred when the Lions sent their 2018 fourth-rounder (No. 117 overall) to New England to move up eight spots to No. 43 and draft Kerryon Johnson. The jury is still out on Johnson, whose talent is undermined by a history of injuries. 

.@RobGronkowski explains how he avoided a trade to the Lions two years ago by saying he was retired -- pic.twitter.com/PskmzP5I0o

Gronkowski shut down the trade to Detroit because he wouldn't play with a quarterback other than Tom Brady. He came out of retirement Tuesday to reunite with Brady in Tampa Bay, and it only cost the Bucs a fourth-round pick to acquire him from New England. They also got a seventh-rounder back. 

2018 Rob Gronkowski trade:Lions receive Gronkowski and a second-round pick (No. 43.)Patriots receive a first-round pick (No. 20) and a second-round pic (No. 51)2020 Gronkowski trade:Buccaneers receive Gronkowski and a seventh-round pick.Patriots receive a fourth-round pick.

Of course, Gronkowski hasn't played since 2018, and it was one of the least productive seasons of his career. Two years ago he was coming off an All-Pro season in which he racked up eight touchdowns and over 1,000 yards. Hence the discrepancy in price. 

From the Lions' perspective, it's probably for the best that the trade fell through. They likely would have gotten one subpar season out of Gronkowski, while missing out on a cornerstone of their offensive line. And they got their Gronkowski a year later -- that's the hope, anyway -- in first-round pick T.J. Hockenson.