Buccaneers could have a historic offense with Rob Gronkowski

Rob Gronkowski is reuniting with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, and the Buccaneers have the makings of a historic offense.

When Tom Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he immediately had one of the best wide receiver duos in the league at his disposal and a couple capable tight ends. But as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Rob Gronkowski wants to return to football and reunite with Brady.

Jay Glazer of FOX Sports quickly reported Gronkowski had already undergone a physical, and according to multiple reports a trade with the New England Patriots has been agreed on. The Patriots of course owned Gronkowski’s rights.

The Patriots will send Gronkowski and a seventh-round pick to Tampa Bay for a fourth-round pick.

New England had to offload Gronkowski if he wanted to unretire, since they could not take on his $9-million plus salary for this year. The Buccaneers now go capably three-deep at tight end with Gronk joining O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate, though Howard is rumored to be on the trade block and that talk may take on higher urgency now.

Brady, obviously with years throwing to the league’s best tight end for awhile in Gronkowski, loves throwing to tight ends. Gronkowski was diminished by injuries a fair amount, some of them significant (back, ACL). But after a year out to get healthier and fresh, it’s worth noting he’ll still only turn 31 in May.

The Buccaneers already had the makings of a great offense, as evidence of Brady’s demise last year with the Patriots was not totally on him. Running back and offensive tackle stand as a need they can pluck from among the top prospects at those positions in this week’s draft, and now whatever is left of Gronkowski has been added to the mix.

Tampa Bay pushed themselves into a big time win-now window by signing Brady, and doing whatever it takes to maximize it is automatic. A reunion with one of his all-time favorite targets seemed to progressively grow in possibility, and it’s coming to fruition to give the Buccaneers the pieces of what could now be a historically prolific offense in 2020.