The New England Patriots entered Tuesday with Rob Gronkowski on their reserve/retired list, and only one selection in the fourth round of the draft. A few hours later, the situation had changed drastically: after telling the Patriots that he wanted to return to pro football but be traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to be reunited with his former quarterback, Tom Brady, Gronkowski and a seventh-round pick were sent to Florida in return for a fourth-rounder.
The move happened rather quickly, at least from a public perspective: between the first report of the tight end having talked to the Patriots about ending his retirement and the trade being agreed upon by the two teams involved, a mere 32 minutes passed.