To start things out, we’re going to state that we know that the New England Patriots already have Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith at the tight end position. With that being said, Rob Gronkowski might actually be a perfect target in NFL free agency this offseason. We’re here to explain why that crazy idea might just make more sense than you might think.
Gronkowski is set to hit free agency after a successful stint with Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now that Brady has retired, there is a strong chance that another team could swoop in and sign Gronkowski.
During the 2021 season with Tampa Bay, Gronkowski ended up catching 55 passes for 802 yards and six touchdowns. He was highly effective for the Buccaneers. That could make a reunion be extremely intriguing for the Patriots.
Why would the Patriots even consider signing Gronkowski with both Smith and Henry already on the roster? Two reasons stand out among the rest. First of all, he would give Mac Jones a veteran who can consistently make plays and be a go-to target, and secondly, the addition of Gronkowski would give the Patriots the opportunity to trade Smith for extra draft capital.
Granted, there is no guarantee that Gronkowski would even consider signing with the Patriots. There seems to be some bad blood there that caused him to retire early. When he came back, it was clear that he wanted to be traded to the Buccaneers and would not consider playing if New England wanted to keep him.
However, what a story that would be. Gronkowski is loved in New England more than he ever could be anywhere else. The city is loved by Gronkowski, which makes this an option he would have to carefully consider.
Not only would Gronkowski be able to return home, he would form a lethal one-two punch at tight end with Henry. Think back a few years to when the Patriots had both Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. That duo was an absolute nightmare for opposing defensive to match up against.
Jones is a budding young star and having a consistent threat like Rob Gronkowski would be a welcome addition. If the star tight end is open to repairing things with the Patriots, this move would make so much sense.
Don’t expect to see this move end up happening this offseason. But, if it did, both sides would likely be very happy with the results they would find back together.
