With additional cap space, should Patriots coax Rob Gronkowski or trade for Trent Williams?

Tom Brady's recent extension opens up enough cap space to go after OT Trent Williams or... Rob Gronkowski?

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - On Sunday, Tom Brady signed a two-year extension for $70 million. The contract pays Brady $30 million in 2020 and $32 million in 2021 and also included an $8 million pay raise for the 2019 season.

Despite this increase in salary, the deal actually created an additional $5.5 million in cap space for the 2019 season. 

My new Patriots salary cap space number after accounting for Brady's extension and presuming the reported numbers are correct is $12,990,353. Does not account for the Cameron Meredith signing but do not expect it to have a significant impact, if any, on the cap.

— Patscap (@patscap) August 4, 2019

As you can see from Boston Sports Journal's Miguel Benzan's tweet, the New England's cap currently stands at $12.99 million, giving the Patriots cap flexibility to make a multitude of moves. 

New England is currently thin at the offensive tackle position, so that might be the position they target via trade or free agency with the recent influx of cap space. Especially when you consider the rumors that the Patriots were interested in trading for veteran tackle Trent Williams. This move makes a lot of sense now that New England has the cap space to get the former 4th overall pick.

Isaiah Wynn, slated to be the team's starting left tackle, is still slowly recovering from the Achilles injury that sidelined him for his entire rookie season. It would be unlike the Patriots to put all their eggs in one basket with Wynn, who is unproven and recovering from an injury that is usually difficult to return from. 

Williams would help add that extra insurance in case Wynn has a setback or struggles early on. The former Washington Redskin has made seven straight Pro Bowls from 2012-2018 and was named second-team All-Pro for his efforts in the 2015 season.

If Wynn is exactly the player they hoped he would be when they drafted him with the 23rd overall pick in the 2018 Draft, then Williams could operate as the team's primary reserve swing tackle. With very little depth behind Wynn and Cannon, the move would still be very wise for New England.

But there is also someone else the Patriots could use their remaining cap space on.

Schefter tells @GregHillWEEI that the $5.5 million in cap space created by Brady's extension could be used to help lure Gronk back from retirement.

— The Greg Hill Show (@TheGregHillShow) August 5, 2019

New England would definitely welcome Rob Gronkowski back with open arms as the tight end group is hurting in his absence. One NFL Network host appears to think it is all but guaranteed that Gronkowski will return to New England.

Rich Eisen interviewed Gronkowski earlier this offseason and appears to think there is a "100%' chance" that Gronkowski will be returning at some point during the season. 

That said, it looks like Gronk is well below his playing weight and would need to bulk up a good amount before returning to the field for the Patriots. 

If the future Hall of Fame tight end did decide to come back he would instantly be the team's best blocker and receiving threat at the position. Even in one of the worst statistical seasons of his career, his 682 yards and three touchdowns would still top anyone on New England's current roster, and he has shown that he can still make the big catch in the big game. 

In 2018, Gronkowski had a base salary of $8 million, which was the 2nd highest amongst tight ends last season, according to Spotrac. If the team offered him $10 million to come back, which would make him the highest-paid tight end in 2019 while also leaving some cap room for maneuvering during the season, it may be enough to convince the TE to come back for one more season. 

The decision ultimately comes down to what the team needs more. Do they need assurance at the left tackle position, or do they need Gronkowski's presence in the offense for one more year?