Now that superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski has agreed to come out of retirement and accept a trade from the New England Patriots to the Detroit Lions, the details of the last time the Pats attempted to deal Gronk have come out.
That was during the 2018 draft and the other team was none other than the Detroit Lions. Widely reported at the time, the deal fell through when Gronk told the Patriots he would retire rather than not play with Tom Brady as his quarterback.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted out the exact details of the agreed-upon trade between the Lions and Patriots that Gronk smashed.
2018 Rob Gronkowski trade:
Lions receive Gronkowski and a second-round pick (No. 43.)
Patriots receive a first-round pick (No. 20) and a second-round pic (No. 51)2020 Gronkowski trade:
Buccaneers receive Gronkowski and a seventh-round pick.
Patriots receive a fourth-round pick.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 21, 2020
The Lions drafted Frank Ragnow with the No. 20 pick. Ironically enough, the Patriots wound up trading No. 43 overall to the Lions for No. 51 and the Lions’ 4th-rounder, No. 117 overall. Detroit drafted Kerryon Johnson with the acquired pick. The Patriots wound up trading both picks they got in the deal.