Rob Gronkowski won't be re-signing with the Buccaneers or playing with another NFL team in 2022. The future Hall of Fame tight end, who turned 33 in mid May, made his second retirement official in late June.
Given his recent free agent status, there's no doubt the team was prepared to operate offensively without Gronkowski catching passes from Tom Brady in Tampa Bay for a third season.
Still, Gronk creates a considerable void for what's been an elite scoring unit the past two seasons, both as a receiver and blocker. In his two regular season, he posted a combined 100 receptions for 1,425 yards and 13 TDs.
Between Gronkowski, fellow tight end O.J. Howard (now with the Bills) and wide receiver Antonio Brown, the Buccaneers have a total of 171 targets, 111 receptions, 1,482 yards and 11 TDs vacated from 2021.
With some notable other moves made at tight end, wideout and running back before Gronk's decision, here's a look at five key players who will be huge in helping Brady overcome the loss of his long-time favorite target:
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Cameron Brate
It doesn't take the Harvard education Brate has to know he will the biggest direct beneficiary of Gronkowski joining Howard in not returning to the Buccaneers.
The veteran, once again first-string tight end, has taken a backseat as a pass-catcher the past three seasons for multiple reasons. First, in 2019, when offensive-minded Bruce Arians took over as head coach, Jameis Winston focused more on pushing the ball more aggressively downfield to the wide receivers. During the Brady era, Brate saw his role stay reduced with Gronkowski dominating targets from the position.
But before a Gronk reunion happened, Brady and Brate, who will turn 31 in July, got on the same page early as smart, seasoned veterans. He's more of a limited short-to-intermediate area receiver vs. up-the-seam big-play threat Gronkowski was. With Arians stepping down, however, to hand over the offense to Brady and Byron Leftwich, the Buccaneers will adjust to better incorporate Brate's skill set. Expect Brate to pick up a good chunk of Gronk's red zone production.
If Brady can trust Brate to catch the Lombardi Trophy before it falls into open water, he should give him the first and foremost shot to be his new Gronk.
Mike Evans
Brate's big frame (6-5, 245 pounds) and catch radius will be a nice fallback asset at the same position as Gronkowski (6-6, 265 pounds). At wide receiver, Evans (6-5, 231 pounds) already has been a massive scoring monster for Brady with 27 TDs the past two seasons. On a streak of eight consecutive 1,000-yard seasons to begin his career, Evans has emerged as his most efficient self going into his Age 29 campaign.
Brady and Evans have connected for 17 scoring passes that went for fewer than 10 yards the past two regular seasons. Gronkowski had nine red zone scores with the Buccaneers. Evans is still dangerous as a perimeter vertical threat but Brady loves finding his big body towering over cover men in the end zone.
Evans' element of stretching the field will come into play more now as Gronk averaged 14.3 yards per catch as a Buccaneer. Evans has been at 14.1 in the Brady era, but pre Brady, his career average was 15.7. Look for his number there to creep up right along with his target share, especially with fellow top wideout Chris Godwin coming off a torn ACL and Brown out of the picture.
Russell Gage
Gage was one of the more underrated offseason signings. The Bucs plucked him from the division ival Falcons, for whom he posted a combined 138 receptions for 1,556 yards and 8 TDs with Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley missing significant time. Gage is on the depth chart as Brown's replacement as the No. 3 outside, but he also can also work the slot, where Godwin lines up well more than half the time. That's a key development with Godwin still on the mend and Breshad Perriman still in the mix.
Tampa Bay lined up with 11 personnel (three wide receivers) almost 70 percent of the time last season, even with Godwin and Brown missing a combined dozen games. Only four teams were more frequent in that usage. Gage, just 26, was signed for his versatility, reliability and potential further growth in his all-around game. There's been a lot of quick trust from Brady in his route running and hands through the red zone.
Gage will see a big bump in his targets and scoring chances to complement Evans and Godwin, while also being a contingency for the latter. That will lead to contributing to Gronkowski's lost possession production often.
MORE: Tom Brady has hilarious response to tease a Gronk comeback
Cade Otton
Otton (6-5, 250 pounds) was arguably the best all-around tight end prospect in the 2022 draft before some injury concerns from Pac-12 play (like Gronkowski) caused him to slip into the fourth round. Coming off ankle surgery, the rookie is a little behind in picking up the offense because not being able to practice with Brady.
It's typical for a tight end to take at least one season to catch up to the pro game and handle the tough responsibilities of his position. His blocking could use work and that will be the biggest short-term dropoff at tight end without Gronk. But Otton was drafted to help the Bucs continue to field 12 personnel (two tight ends) at key times for Brady opposite Brate with Howard also gone.
There will be a lot on Otton to contribute at least in that complementary capacity with another rookie, sixth-rounder Ko Kieft behind him. At worst, he can help create some more size-athleticism matches so the Bucs can better scheme Brate, Evans and Godwin open.
Rachaad White
Don't sleep on White (6-0, 214 pounds) also being pa big art of the Gronk makeup plan. The Buccaneers used a third-round pick on White because of his three-down qualities that included being a strong receiver out of the backfield for his size.
The Bucs have loved what Fournette (6-0, 228 pounds) has given Brady as a key receiver, and needed a true backup who could handle that part of that role much better than predecessor Ronald Jones. Although third-year man Ke'Shawn Vaughn and former Bengal Giovani Bernard have good profiles as receivers, neither can hold up in the big bruising way a la Fournette behind the Buccaneers' powerful offensive line.
White is the ideal extension of Fournette as a runner and receiver. He will be a factor in third-down and red zone play when getting the opportunities. Rachaad White will be an immediate part of Brady's "James White by committee" in the short passing game. He adds another dual scoring threat near the goal line.
In retrospect, the Buccaneers' signing of Gage and drafting of Otton, White and Kieft offered a strong indication that once Brady un-retired, the team expected Gronkowski to retire or not re-sign. Brate and Evans have plenty of support post Gronk, as the Bucs went further in padding depth not knowing when Godwin would be at full strength again post torn ACL.
Brady will miss Gronk, but going back to the Patriots' days, he's used to seeing turnover in his pass-catching corps. As usual, Brady will adapt by spreading the ball around well based on personnel and situation.
