Turns out Rob Gronkowski only needed a year off from football after all.
According to multiple reports, the Patriots have agreed to send the former All-Pro tight end, who is ending his retirement, to Tampa Bay to join his old quarterback Tom Brady. The Bucs will receive Gronkowski and a seventh-round pick in exchange for a fourth-rounder. Tampa owns a pair of picks in the fourth round – Nos. 117 and 139 – and it is unknown which one the Patriots now hold.
Gronk reportedly told Fox Sports' Jay Glazer that he already took his physical for the Bucs, so the trade shouldn't face any holdups.
The tight end had a modest season by his standards in 2018, his final year in a Patriots uniform, catching 47 passes for 682 yards and three touchdowns. But he was back in form for the postseason when he came up with key plays in both the AFC title game win in Kansas City and against the Rams in the Super Bowl.
Gronkowski joins a tight end depth chart that includes Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard in Tampa.
