Patriots links 4/30/26: Gronk appreciation; Who’s on trade block?

Foxborough, MA - January 18: New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte celebrates a catch in the second quarter. The Patriots played the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round at Gillette Stadium on January 18, 2026. (Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images

TEAM TALK

• Patriots announce Rob Gronkowski was voted by fans into Patriots Hall of Fame.
• Press Conference:Rob Gronkowski (25 min.)
• Highlights:Best moments from Rob Gronkowski's Patriots Hall of Fame career. (3 min. video)
• Patriots Catch-22:Full draft recap, pick-by-pick Patriots analysis, Rob Gronkowski to Pats HOF reaction. (2 hours.)

LOCAL LINKS

• Alex Barth highlights the top 10 Rob Gronkowski moments with the Patriots.
• Meghan Ottolini writes about Rob Gronkowski showing off his brand-new boat while FaceTiming Patriots media. It's nice kismet that New England's most cheerful guy gets to celebrate while the team is hot again"
• Mark Daniels says that while Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski are deserving, Adam Vinatieri's continued snub from Patriots Hall of Fame is embarrassing.
• Alex Barth relays Rob Gronkowski recalling his reaction to falling asleep in his Pats' pre-draft interview.
• Brian Ferzoco explains why the Patriots deserve an A' for this offseason.
• Michael DeVito makes the case the Patriots smartest draft move was trading up for OT Caleb Lomu.
• Ethan Hurwitz looks at whether productive SEC RB Jam Miller was a reach or a steal.
• Cam Kerry tells us five things to know about Patriots sixth-round pick LB Namdi Obiazor.
• Andrew Mahoney picks out five things know about seventh-round pick QB Behren Morton.
• Graham Wilker sees some sneaky good UDFA signings who could shake things up for the 2026 roster.
• Ethan Hurwitz identifies four Patriots who may have just lost their jobs after the draft: RB Terrell Jennings, WR Efton Chism III, WR Efton Chism III and Edge Bradyn Swinson. /click for commentary.
• Ethan Hurwitz notes veteran linebacker Robert Spillane did not need offseason ankle surgery and should be good to go health-wise.
• Sara Marshall relays Chad Graff (The Athletic) who identifies a few Patriots receivers who might be on the trade block if an AJ Brown deal comes together.
• Jennifer Streeter hears from captains Hunter Henry and Robert Spillane about their passion for fatherhood.
• Evan Cormier thinks Director of Football Strategy Marshall Oium was fired because of an embarrassing draft failure. I give the Patriots 2026 NFL Draft a flat-out F."/Come on, tell us how you really feel.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Jeremy Fowler (ESPN) 2026 NFL draft: Scouts, coaches, execs on 32 teams' classes. Eventual No. 24 pickKC Concepcionwas a hot name. Had he slipped past Cleveland, New England was believed to be one of many teams that thought highly of him." -according to a rival team./No way Pats take a WR over an available top OT.
• Matt Miller (ESPN) 2026 NFL draft: Ranking the 100 best picks, steals, fits.
• Matt Verderame, Gilberto Manzano (SI) Biggest remaining roster holes for all 32 teams. Patriots: WR, OL, S. New England could be ripe for some regression after a shocking Super Bowl appearance last season. The biggest reason is an offense lacking elite playmakers...."
• Matt Verderame (SI) The five most likely 2026 draft busts in the AFC. Bills, Jets, Dolphins included.
• Matt Okada (NFL.com) Best NFL team fits for notable remaining free agents. No Pats.
• Tom Blair (NFL.com) Five teams that could make a Seahawks-like surprise run to Super Bowl LXI.
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Patriots rookie QB Behren Morton is older than Drake Maye, but knows he can learn from him.
• Eva Geitheim (SI) Drake Maye makes first comments on Mike Vrabel. Just thankful he's our head coach."
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Next up on the offseason calendar: Schedule release.
• Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) With a stellar QB draft class in 2027 coming, will we see NBA-level tanking from any NFL teams?