Following the stunning un-retirement and trade of former New England Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, one prevailing theory emerged that current Bucs tight end OJ Howard would be out the door to make room for “Gronk.”
Now it appears that is not the case.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Buccaneers plan to keep Howard, 25, on the roster, opting to provide new quarterback Tom Brady with as many options on offense as possible as a suitable trade remains unseen for the NFC South franchise.
As it stands, the Bucs are comfortable eating the salary cap hit of nearly $20 million and keeping tight ends Rob Gronkowski, Cam Brate and O.J. Howard. No realistic trade options surfaced, and TB wants to give Tom Brady all the matchup options he would need.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 26, 2020
Brady, 42, signed a two-year, fully guaranteed $50 million contract with Tampa Bay as a free agent this spring, changing scenery from his longtime Patriots organization of 20 years, winning six Super Bowls in Foxborough. Gronkowski, 30, won three of those Lombardi Trophies alongside his gunslinger and had retired prior to the 2019 campaign, citing health concerns and a history of concussions.
Gronk, having won the 24/7 title belt in the WWE during retirement, is coming out of retirement as the Patriots trade the tight end to the Buccaneers for a fourth-round pick. Where does that leave the former first-round selection of the team, Howard?
While teams have called in asking for the rising fourth-year tight end, the Buccaneers will keep Howard on the roster for now. The former Alabama Crimson Tide pass-catcher has amassed over 1,400 receiving yards in three seasons and 38 games with Tampa Bay, scoring a dozen touchdowns in tenure with the Buccaneers. Of course, the acquisition of Brady changes everything for head coach Bruce Arians and co., but these are only positive problems to have after the courtship of a future Hall of Fame QB.
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