Last week, the New England Patriots signed nine players to future contracts. Eight of those nine players were on the team’s final 10-man practice squad of the 2016 season. The two practice squad players not re-signed were wide receiver DeAndre White and fullback Glenn Gronkowski.
According to Field Yates, though, and since confirmed by the Patriots, one of the two will be back with the team:
Source: the Patriots have re-signed FB Glenn Gronkowski. Double Gronk life continues in New England.
The 22-year old Gronkowski, whose older brother Rob is the NFL’s best tight end, originally entered the league as an undrafted rookie in 2016. After a stint with the Buffalo Bills, the Kansas State product joined the Patriots in mid-September and spent the season as an off-and-on member of the team’s practice squad.
Now, Gronkowski returns to New England to partake in the team’s offseason workout program. With starting fullback James Develin set to enter unrestricted free agency next month, re-signing Gronkowski offers both depth and security.
WR DeAndrew White remains the lone practice squad player not to sign a futures contract with New England. White earned the third-most practice player of the week awards for the Patriots and could be looking for a team with a bigger role available.
Final tally of the #Patriots Practice Players of the Week!
— Rich Hill (@PP_Rich_Hill) January 4, 2017
RB D.J. Foster, ED Geneo Grissom, WR DeAndrew White lead the way. pic.twitter.com/kOpZgTTTGO