Notes: Details emerge on Detroit Lions’ failed 2018 trade for Rob Gronkowski

On Tuesday, the New England Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers expedited a trade that sent formerly-retired tight end Rob Gronkowski to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reuniting the All Pro tight end with All Pro quarterback Tom Brady. The move cost the Bucs a fourth-round pick to acquire both Gronk and a seventh-round pick from the Pats.

And since the Gronk trade was completed, it unearthed the two-year-old story about when the Detroit Lions very nearly acquired Gronkowski in a trade of their own. At the time, it was reported that Detroit nearly paid a first-round pick to get the tight end, but Gronkowski turned down the trade by threatening to retire.

Turns out both of those rumors were essentially true. This week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed the full breakdown of that 2018 trade proposal:

So the Lions would’ve sent a little less than a first-round pick for Gronk. They would’ve sent their 2018 first-round pick, but they would’ve moved up eight spots in the second round. For fun, here’s what those draft picks turned into:

Lions 20th overall pick: Frank Ragnow

Ironically enough, the Lions and Patriots would end up swapping the 43rd and 51st pick anyways, as Detroit traded up to get Kerryon Johnson, sending an additional fourth to New England. The Patriots traded down again from that 51 pick.

As a reminder, last year, Gronk addressed that moment in his career, laughing off his decision to feign retirement to avoid landing in Detroit.

• Tuesday’s notes led with a rumor suggesting the Dolphins may trade up to Pick 3 to grab an offensive lineman. Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network heard the same rumor:

• Two more local mock drafts came in under the wire. Both Justin Rogers and Benjamin Raven have the Lions landing Jeff Okudah after a trade down.

• Fantastic story from Stephen Holder (Athletic subscription required) on how former Lions scout Chad Henry (now with the Colts) beat cancer and how it changed his life perspective.

• Reminder: There are still a lot of talented players in free agency left:

• Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire has 7 things he thinks he knows about the Lions’ 2020 NFL Draft.

• A wonderful memory to brighten your day: