Rob Gronkowski’s decision to retire from the NFL on Sunday instantly created one of the larger offseason storylines in football. The ripple effect of extends beyond the Patriots, all the way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Assessing the full impact of Gronkowski’s decision is difficult to do in the short term. NFL free agency continues, and the NFL draft is yet to happen. How the Patriots will replace Gronkowski – a monumental task – is unclear.
Added to that is the possibility that the 29-year-old tight end might not stay retired. As Gronkowski’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has speculated on several occasions already, there’s still a chance the former Patriot decides he wants to come out of retirement.