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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots have reportedly traded former TE Rob Gronkowski to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a mid-round draft pick, according to multiple reports.
The Patriots will receive the Buccaneers’ 4th round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Patriots will also be sending a 7th round pick to Tampa Bay with Gronkowski.
The #Patriots and #Bucs have agreed to terms on a trade: Tampa gets Rob Gronkowski and a 7th rounder in exchange for a 4th rounder, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 21, 2020
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
Gronkowski, who retired from professional football following New England’s win over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII, allegedly informed New England that he wanted to return to the NFL and reunite with former Patriots QB Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.
UPDATE: Tight end Rob Gronkowski has officially been traded to the Buccaneers for a fourth-round draft pick, per multiple reports. pic.twitter.com/VmKX1xKA4k
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) April 21, 2020
Despite his retirement in February 2019, the tight end was still under contract with New England for one more season, meaning the only possible reunion between Brady and Gronkowski would be as a result of a trade between the Patriots and Tampa Bay.
Sources: Retired #Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski has told New England that he’s interested in playing football again — and would want to do it with the #Bucs and QB Tom Brady. A trade would have to be worked out for this to happen.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 21, 2020
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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported just before news of the trade broke that both teams had been in trade talks for Gronkowski leading up to the NFL Draft, which kicks off Thursday.
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
Two years ago before the draft, the Patriots agreed to trade Rob Gronkowski to the Lions, but Gronk informed them he’d opt for retirement over playing with a QB other than Tom Brady. Now after a year of retirement, Gronk hoping for a pre-draft trade to reunite with his former QB.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020
Tom Brady signed a two-year deal with Tampa Bay back in March.
The pair have played every single season together since Gronkowski’s rookie year in 2010, except for last year when the tight end was briefly retired. Gronkowski has caught more touchdown passes (78) from Brady than any other player in the quarterback’s 20-year career.
>>>MORE: Patriots announce 2020 finalists for team Hall of Fame
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