Back on April 10th, I wrote in a blog "Don't expect a trade for O.J. Howard. Gronk's value due to injury is around mid round level. So a fourth or a fourth round player equivalent would be the trade value, give or take. If Gronkowski wanted to return, a trade would be barring he could pass a physical and could get a release from his WWE contract..."
After reading some more information on April 16th, I wrote "I would offer straight up Gronk for Howard (Trade). Then Maybe Gronk and a sixth for Howard. If Tampa turned it down, no way do I offer more than one third and a sixth for Howard."
Many people thought I was crazy and still thought Gronk was worth a first or second round pick and them some. They ignored The fact that Gronk had spent a year out of football and his last two seasons were not on an elite level.
"Gronk’s retirement after the 2018 season came as a bit of a surprise to many, as the star tight end had played just nine seasons in the NFL and was still widely considered one of the best players at his position." Wrote Cole McCauley of Clutch Point in his article "Rob Gronkowski claims return to NFL, move to Buccaneers "feels right." "
Cole also wrote in an earlier article that "Gronkowski joins a loaded Buccaneers offense that includes the likes of Brady, superstar receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, running back Ronald Jones and fellow tight end O.J. Howard."
The Trade leaves the Buccaneers with just under five million dollars in cap space. The Patriots really had no power to maneuver and could not afford Gronk to come out of retirement. This was the most likely outcome.
Expect a contract rework or extension to begin on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning and the Buccaneers to try to reach a deal with Gronkowski by the am hours of Thursday morning.
Gronk told Glazer of fox after the trade “I’m back. I always said when I have that feeling and it feels right, I will be ready to take the field again. And I have that feeling. I’m ready,”
Now I am going to make another unpopular prediction, The possiblity of two Trade scenarios between The Buccaneers and the Patriots, I expect one will happen by the time the Buccaneers pick at fourteen. I am also going to make an unpopular statement.
The Patriots have 27 year old Joe Thuney who is looking to make around $15 million if the Patriots cannot reach a long term deal. The Patriots also have 29 year old Rex Burkhead, who is slated to make $3.9 Million. Which the team could save $2.9 Million if they move him. The Patriots are stocked at running back and need to unload somebody, Burkhead is the Ideal candidate.
Thuney is worth a first or a second round pick and Burkhead should be valued around a mid fifth round to a six round pick. Now you might be wondering why I am talking about Rex Burkhead. In my blog "Four Trade Partners For The Patriots To Ship Rex Burkhead To", I wrote of the Buccs, "for they might be the best fit. The team needs a receiving back and Burkhead can deliver. The bonus for them is Brady's familiarity with Burkhead."
Scenario one would see the Patriots trading pick 23, Joe Thuney and Rex Burkhead to the Buccaneers for picks 14 and 194. Everything I have read and heard recently is The Buccaneers need offensive line help and running back depth, while the Patriots need a franchise quarterback.
The second and more likely scenario is the Buccaneers will send the Patriots Guard Alex Cappa, pick number 76 in the 3rd and pick 194 for Thuney and Burkhead. If Cappa is not part of this trade, the Buccaneers may want pick 230 as well.
Ali Marpet seems like a better trade option over Cappa but the Patriots cannot afford him. The Buccaneers don't have a lot of cap but they will want to keep their new quarterback happy, as just they entered the superbowl or bust era. Brady knows what he has in both Thuney and Burkhead and won't have to worry about developing talent.
There are some calling for Edelman, Gilmore, and Hightower to get traded. Bill is not gonna destroy the team to Tank. There's no guarantee Bill can properly replace any of them over next season or even over the next five season. Edelman is too valuable and needed to help develop a young quarterback. While Bill may trade some players, it's more likely he will he will rework the other two, as trading them just doesn't seem to make any sense.
Patriots nation, we've been waiting for something new to talk about, as the Patriots media got stale. It's been all Tom Brady since the loss to the Titans and many of us are sick of it. Leave it to Belichick to wait until two days before the draft to put excitement and energy back into the news. Hopefully this will be the start of a flurry of trades by the hoodie.
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