Report: Patriots, Buccaneers Discussing Trade for TE Rob Gronkowski

The formerly retired tight end could be making a comeback to catch passes from his old teammate.

It appears the Rob Gronkowski/Buccaneers rumors are true. 

The New England Patriots and Tampa Bay have been and are continuing discussions about a trade for tight end Rob Gronkowski, according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter. 

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

It appears the Buccaneers want to give Tom Brady an old friend to throw to. 

Gronkowski announced his retirement from the NFL last offseason, and has been rumored to be coming out of retirement ever since then. But this time, it was true. Rumors started circulating a couple weeks back that Gronkowski would be willing to come out of retirement to play for the Buccaneers, who now have Brady as their quarterback. 

As Schefter mentioned, Gronkowski - who has yet to officially file his retirement paperwork with the NFL - has one year and $10 million remaining on his contract with New England. With less than two days remaining before the 2020 NFL Draft is underway, the two teams are likely looking to get something done before the draft begins because the trade may involve draft capital. 

ESPN's Jeff Darlington pointed out that the chances of Gronkowski and Brady reuniting wherever the 42 year old landed was always felt as a "real" possibility behind-the-scenes. "Gronk was done with the Patriots… but he never wanted to be done catching TDs from Brady," Darlington wrote on Twitter. 

Gronk reuniting with Brady — wherever Brady ended — always felt like a real scenario behind the scenes. I can’t understate the appreciation, on and off the field, they have for each other. Gronk was done with the Patriots… but he never wanted to be done catching TDs from Brady.

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) April 21, 2020