The Bucs’ plan to re-sign all of their big name free agents this offseason is going quite well. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Tampa Bay has agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal with tight end Rob Gronkowski. The contract has a value of up to $10 million if Gronkowski hits a number of incentives, per Pewter Report’s Scott Reynolds.

This will be Gronkowski’s second year with the Bucs after he came out of retirement last season to reunite with quarterback Tom Brady and win Super Bowl LV together in the pair’s first season on a new team. It wasn’t exactly known how well Gronkowski would play after retiring due to a myriad of injuries, but he looked refreshed after a year away and didn’t miss a single game.

Gronkowski was a strong contributor in the Bucs’ Super Bowl winning season, making 45 receptions for 623 yards and seven touchdowns. He saved his best game for last, going for 67 yards on six catches and two touchdowns in a 31-9 Super Bowl win. Arguably the biggest impact he had this season came as a blocker on the end of the offensive line, significantly helping out in the run game and taking on pass rushers with tremendous success.

As he made clear early on, the only quarterback Gronkowski wants to play with is Brady. Towards the end of last season and through many comments in 2021, he made it known that he intended to play again this season, suggesting that there was only one team he was going to. Gronkowski suggest that he would test the free agent waters, but in the end there was little question that he would play anywhere other than Tampa Bay.

The tight end position will be loaded with good depth again for the Bucs. Gronkowski remains No. 1 on the depth chart with O.J. Howard and Cam Brate behind at two and three, followed by Tanner Hudson and Codey McElroy. Once again, the Bucs were able to reach a deal with their star player and somehow stay under the salary cap with an immensely talented roster and a Super Bowl ring to show for it.

Gronkowski Contract Update

The Bucs are again using void years, this time on Gronkowski’s contract. This tactic lowers his 2021 cap hit to $4.8 million.