Gronkowski Traded To Tampa Bay

The New England Patriots have traded the rights to Rob Gronkowski and a seventh-round draft to the Tamp Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a fourth-round pick. This trade became official on Tuesday afternoon. Gronkowski has one year left on his existing contract for $10 million.
Gronkowski hinted that he might make a return on an episode of What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. He said, “I’m feeling good right now, I’m happy where I’m at,” he said. “You just never know, man. You just never know. You never know. I’m not totally done.”
Jay Glazer from Fox Sports has reported that Gronkowski has already passed his physical with the team.
“Rob has agreed to play for Tampa this season,” Gronkowski’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. “He will honor his current contract at this time.”
The Buccaneers offense now features Tom Brady at quarterback, Ronald Jones at running back, wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and Gronkowski joining O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate at tight end.
Their offense is built to be pretty impressive, and I’m sure many will be taken early in fantasy leagues across the country, except for maybe New England fans.
Gronk has made it clear that Brady is the only quarterback he wants to play for. Without this move by Brady, Gronk might have stayed retired. He threatened early retirement once before when the Patriots were entertaining trading him to the Detroit Lions.
The biggest issue for Gronk and his retirement was his list of injuries. He has missed 29 games in his career for several different issues, including head trauma. He has even partnered with a CBD company that creates topical pain treatments.
He will have to stay healthy for this comeback, but he is insisting that he is ready. He told Fox Sports in a text message, “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.”
Effects on Betting Odds
Since the news broke, sportsbooks have the odds on the Buccaneers getting better. Before the trade, the Buccaneers were +1600 to win the Super Bowl. Now on DraftKings, their odds have moved down to +1200 and are as low as 9-1 on BetMGM.
How the odds changed at DraftKings:
- NFC Championship: +750 to +700
- NFC South: +145 to +130
- Win total: 9.5 (Over moved from -110 to -125)
- To make playoffs: -160 to -225
Caesars Sportsbook has also shown movement. Tampa Bay’s odds of winning the Super Bowl improved from 17-1 to 14-1. The Bucs’ odds of winning the NFC also improved from 8-1 to 7-1.
Before the trade, the favorites for Comeback Player of the Year were Ben Roethlisberger and J.J. Watt. But Gronk has jumped out in front on DraftKings with +200 odds.
PointsBet has been one of the first to post an over/under for Gronk’s receiving yards. It’s currently set at 750.5. Many new prop bets featuring Gronk will continue as fans wait to see him and Brady in Buccaneers uniforms.