Rob Gronkowski reuniting with Tom Brady solidifies Buccaneers as contenders
Rob Gronkowski is heading back to the NFL and will be back with Tom Brady as he’s been traded to the Buccaneers, making Tampa Bay an absolute juggernaut.
After signing Tom Brady in free agency, many people believed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had become one of the favorites to win the NFC in the 2020 season. And at that time, Rob Gronkowski was preparing to host WWE’s WrestleMania 36. But two days from the NFL Draft, things have changed for Gronk and the Buccaneers — for the better.
On Tuesday, buzz started quickly that the former Patriots tight end was eyeing a return to the NFL and would be interested in joining Brady in Tampa Bay. For that to happen, however, he would have to be traded as he remained under contract with New England.
Things moved extremely fast and, before anyone could even process everything, it was confirmed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Buccaneers and Patriots have agreed to a trade that will send Gronk and a seventh-round pick to Tampa Bay in exchange for a fourth-round pick. It’ll be the tandem of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski harassing NFL defenses once again, this time in a different zip code.
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
Rapoport also confirmed that Gronkowski has already passed his physical, meaning the trade should go through.
With the addition of the tight end, the Buccaneers now have a group of weapons that should terrify opposing defenses in the league. Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were already one of the most devastating wide receiver duos in the NFL. Now they’ll have arguably the most dominant tight end in the history of the league playing with them. Oh yeah, and Brady is now throwing all of them the ball.
Now that Gronk is in tow, the Bucs should part with former first-round pick O.J. Howard sooner rather than later, which might recoup the fourth-rounder they just gave up for Gronkowski. And with draft picks to secure a left tackle, improve the run game and add depth on defense, Tampa Bay should be sitting extremely pretty.
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While some have cried “overreaction” at the notion of the Buccaneers, a 7-9 team last year, contending after adding Brady, adding Rob Gronkowski confirms exactly that. Even though they play in a strong NFC South and even though the NFC as a whole is stacked, the arsenal the Bucs have assembled is going to be difficult for anyone to stop or, more aptly, keep up with.