Trade grades: Buccaneers, Patriots both win Gronk deal

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Rob Gronkowski is back in the NFL.

The legendary tight end was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday after informing the New England Patriots of his desire to play alongside old friend and quarterback Tom Brady.

The deal saw New England package Gronkowski with a seventh-round pick (No. 241) in exchange for a fourth-round pick (No. 139) in the 2020 draft.

Let's look at how each team made out:

New England Patriots

The Patriots went into the offseason expecting to get nothing from or for their retired tight end in 2020, so to come away with anything is an automatic victory. Even if Gronkowski was open to the idea of returning with cap-strapped New England, his $10-million salary would have caused problems. The Patriots need a tight end but could be entering a transition year, and Gronkowski, who will turn 31 in May, isn't a long-term solution. A fourth-round pick can prove useful, though a premium selection or a somewhat established player with upside would've marked the ideal return. Still, New England had nothing to lose in this deal aside from, perhaps, the public embarrassment of watching a second franchise icon decide to play elsewhere.

Grade: B

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers didn't get enough from their tight ends last year, as O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate combined for only 770 yards and four touchdowns. Even when Gronkowski looked like a shell of his former self in 2018, he still posted 682 yards and three scores. It's possible Gronkowski will regain some of his explosiveness in 2020 after healing his battered body for a year (a WWE championship bout notwithstanding). If nothing else, he'll upgrade the Buccaneers' blocking up front and provide Brady with a familiar option on key downs. Gronkowski should also benefit from the attention paid to perimeter receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, giving him more space to work over the middle of the field. With Tampa Bay looking to win a Super Bowl in the near future, a fourth-round pick is a small price to pay for one of the all-time great tight ends.

Grade: A-

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