Rob Gronkowski Trade Rumors: Multiple Teams Planning Offer for Patriots TE
April 3, 2018
NFL teams are reportedly exploring the possibility of trading for New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.
According to The MMQB's Albert Breer, "a couple teams" told him at the owners meetings in Orlando, Florida, last month that they were "planning" on making calls to the defending AFC champions to inquire about Gronkowski's availability.
Breer's note follows a report from the Boston Sports Journal's Greg A. Bedard (h/t Boston.com's Nicole Yang) that indicated the four-time All-Pro could be on the block because he's pondered retirement throughout the offseason.
"A Bill Belichick-friendly source agreed with my thinking that once a player makes Belichick start to contemplate life without him, Belichick starts to warm to being without that player," Bedward wrote. "'He imagines you gone,' he said. The longer Gronkowski goes without saying he's all in, the chances of him being traded increases."
Gronkowski has remained mum on his future since the Patriots lost Super Bowl 52 to the Philadelphia Eagles.
However, ESPN's Jeff Darlington spoke to sources close to the 28-year-old over the weekend who said "he has recently expressed that he is more likely to continue his football career than retire."
Darlington added "lingering frustrations remain between Gronkowski and head coach Bill Belichick, along with others in the Patriots organization."
Gronkowski has dealt with his fair share of injuries—including serious back, forearm and knee ailments—over the course of his eight-year career.
But when healthy, the two-time Super Bowl champion has been one of the most dominant receiving forces the game has to offer.
In 14 games last season, Gronkowski piled up 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns. Since 2010, he's the only tight end with at least 400 receptions, 7,000 receiving yards and 70 touchdowns.