The Patriots reportedly made an easy choice on Monday, picking up the option for tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Yes, that's right, the most dangerous offensive weapon (non-quarterback version) could've become a free agent if the Pats decided not to pick up his option. That was never going to be a thing, though, and as a result, he's locked in through 2019.
Ian Rappoport of NFL.com reports the Pats made the move to pick up Gronk's $10 million option bonus.
#Patriots will pick up the rest of Rob Gronkowski's $10M option bonus before Mar 9, so he won't be a FA, sources say. Expected & important
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2016
As WEEI.com points out, Gronk signed a six-year, $54 million deal in 2012, with the final four years as part of a option. The Patriots picked up $4 million worth of the option, meaning they planned to retain Gronk.
Again, this is about as big a no-brainer move as it gets. Gronk is a dominant force. The only concern is his health and while he's missed time playing with the Patriots, it's been largely because of freak injuries or issues with surgery.
He doesn't necessarily fit the "injury prone" label as much as people would like to toss on him.
If Gronk and Tom Brady can keep making sweet music through 2019, it will be not all that bad for Patriots fans. At just 26 years old, Gronk's got more than a couple years left on an already dominant career.
