Patriots deal Rob Gronkowski to the Buccaneers in a shocking NFL trade

Rob Gronkowski (Fox Sports/You Tube, Wikimedia Commons)

In a stunning National Football League trade on Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers just picked up one of Tom Brady’s most prized career targets. In a deal not many saw coming whatsoever, the Buccaneers acquired Rob Gronkowski of Amherst, New York, one of the elite tight ends in National Football League history, from the New England Patriots, with a seventh round draft pick in the 2020 NFL Draft for a fourth round draft pick in the 2020 NFL Draft according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. 

What makes this deal shocking is the fact that Gronkowski came out of retirement. Now a multi-sport athlete, Gronkowski recently made his debut in World Wrestling Entertainment and became the WWE 24/7 champion on April 5 after a win in WrestleMania 36 in Orlando, Florida.

Gronkowski spent nine consecutive seasons with the New England Patriots from 2010 to 2018. He retired on March 24, 2019 and stated that the pain from the injuries he suffered throughout his career were impacting his mental health according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.

A three-time Super Bowl champion and five-time NFL Pro Bowler, Gronkowski led the National Football League in touchdown catches (17) in 2011. He is one of only three tight ends since the Super Bowl was created to lead the NFL in touchdown catches for a single season. The others are Vernon Davis of Washington, D.C., who had 16 touchdown catches while with the San Francisco 49ers in 2009 and Jimmy Graham of Goldsboro, North Carolina, who had 16 touchdown catches with the New Orleans Saints in 2013.

Gronkowski has 521 catches for 7861 yards and 79 touchdowns during the regular season in his career (115 games). He is also the all-time leader for most receiving yards for a tight end in the NFL playoffs (1163).