Daily NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona
by Ed Valentine on Apr 17, 2010 11:00 AM EDT
in 2010 NFL Draft
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PrintAs New York Giants fans, we love Kevin Boss. In fact, I think being a Boss-maniac is part of the Big Blue View by-laws. At least as of today it is, anyway.
What we are really waiting for is the Bossman to make the leap from productive 40-50 catch tight end to upper echelon 70-90 catch tight end. Or, rather, for the Giants to use him that way.
What we are not looking for is to have the Giants bring in competition or -- gasp! -- a replacement for No. 89. Still, the draft is looming, there are Daily NFL Draft Prospect Profiles that still need to be written and one of the interesting players we have not yet talked about is Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Gronkowski is a 6-foot-6, 260-pound all-around tight end who declared for the draft after his junior season. He is considered by some the most talented tight end in the draft -- except for one small detail. He missed all of 2009 with a back injury, and there are questions about his long-term health.
Let's take a closer look.
Rob Gronkowski Scouting Reports
From Draft Countdown.
Terrific natural athleticism ... Soft, reliable hands ... Superb body control and ball skills ... Good route runner who knows how to get open ... Able to get off the line and beat the jam ... Runs hard after the catch and will break tackles ... Flashes some strength and power ... Excellent blocker both in-line and in space ... Health / Durability are major concerns ... Not very explosive ... Average game speed, acceleration and quickness ... Doesn't get a lot of separation ... Won't be much of a vertical weapon.
Missed the entire 2009 season after undergoing surgery last September to repair a herniated lumbar disk and nerve damage in his back ... Burst onto the scene as a true freshman and has been considered to be the top tight end prospect in his class for quite some time ... Nice all-around player who earns high marks as a pass catcher and blocker ... A legitimate first round talent but stock is clouded by the back injury, an ailment that can linger and have long- term ramifications ... Profiles as a starter assuming he can stay healthy.
From Mocking The Draft.
Has only played two seasons of college football. A lingering back injury prior to the 2009 season required surgery. Despite missing the season, Gronkowski still opted to enter the draft.
His injury history will be heavily scrutinized and may totally knock him off some teams' boards.
When he's healthy, Gronkowski is an excellent tight end with good all-around skills. He's big and physical at the point of attack, but agile enough to be a sound receiver.
From Walter Football, which makes a very interesting comparison.
Gronkowski is a very well-rounded tight end prospect and will likely come off the board in the second round, but if team doctors have very serious concerns with his back (and some certainly should) then he could really fall in the 2010 NFL Draft. Back issues are probably the worst kind of injury for an athlete and generally these athletes have injury problems throughout their careers. Gronkowski will never be an elite tight end in the NFL, but if he stays healthy he should certainly be a productive contributor and starter.
Player Comparison: Kevin Boss. Boss and Gronkowski have similar frames, athleticism and receiving skills.
Why Gronkowski fits with the Giants
Partially because Travis Beckum is not a traditional tight end, and I'm not sure he ever will actually fit into the Giants more traditional approach to using the tight end. Also because, when healthy he is an excellent receiver and blocker. Adding another weapon for Eli Manning could hardly be considered a bad thing.
Why the Giants should pass
Because the Giants already have Boss and they don't need a carbon-copy. They need to throw KB the ball more. Period. Besides, Gronkowski will come off the board pretty early and his history makes him way too big of a risk for the Giants at a position where his skill-set really doesn't add much to the mix.
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I agree, Ed. We really only need a blocking TE ala Dan Campbell.
Nate Byham could be had in the 6-7 range or Brody Eldridge in UDFA. No need to use that high a pick on a TE with our current roster. There’s some talk of Anthony McCoy from USC, but he is more of a project than I would like in the 3-4 range.
That being said, barring the back injury, Gronk is the most complete TE in the draft. Does anyboddy know how he injured his back? If it was on the field, I’d be more concerned than if it were a car accident or something of that sort.
Bleeding Blue since 1962
Even if it was a car accident
This type of injury lingers… I don’t think it ever really fully heals. And according to Wikipedia, it has a strong genetic component, meaning he’s susceptible to this kind of thing for the rest of his life.
Very scary for a guy, as a TE, whose back is expected to take a pounding day in and day out from blocking, tackling, and playing ST.
I’m not sure I want a backup TE on the team who might not be medically capable of contributing to Special Teams.
That's a very broad statement without details on the injury.
The term “back injury” has way to much variance to make such a statement and I perosnally know several people who have had successful back surgeries and play contact sports. Fusions are typical with lower back disc injuries and show a high incidence of complete success.
Besides, I wouldn’t take anything, especially medical information, seriously from Wikipedia. It is filthy with misinformation.
Bleeding Blue since 1962
Another thing to consider is we don't have the report from the NFL Doctors, which the teams do.
If they clear him, that should be enough.
Bleeding Blue since 1962
I don't see this guy as a pick for us...
The weakness in Boss and evenmoreso Beckum is blocking, and for that, if I was going for reinforcements at TE I’d look for the physical brawler of a blocker that would punish opponents along the line, and hopefully had good hands for occasional use. This guy isn’t better than Boss as a receiving option and with his back concerns, isn’t really the mauler I’d be looking for either. If he’s being ignored in the draft and fell far enough maybe I’d kick the tires, but this is more of a luxury or project pick than a need.
TE
I see a move for a blocking TE later in the draft. That’s what I’d like to see, if they go TE at all. I don’t see a need for this type of a risk.
by Ed Valentine on Apr 17, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree....
I think unless Reese is presented with value “too cheap to pass up”, a blocking TE in the 6th or later is about as excited as I’d want to get about the position. And it’s not like KG makes TE the focus of the offense either.
I like Gronko
but if he’s a clone of Bossman, why?
TE’s way down the list I hope, but I’d think its not completely off limits like QB and WR (at least in the first 1-4 rounds…)
If the get a TE..it should be something that adds something. I like Boss..but hey, there’s a reason he was a 5th rounder (footspeed like he’s stuck in the earth). And then Beckum is more of a WR then a TE.
So if they get a TE, I’d hope that if its in a “premium round” like 1-4 (please not 1 or 2..) that the dude brings something to the table.
Like size AND Speed AND Hands. Anthony McCoy is gigantic and fast, as is Ed Dickson. If they go TE, I’d rather take a gander at them.
Now..if Gronk is there in the 4th round…could be intriguing. That’s a lot of value in that round with him there.
Running AMOK
Shame is back went...That will be a major problem for the kid..
Especially the nerve damage piece..I’m thinking he should have stayed in College..Coming out that early, with that injury makes me wonder if his head is low on oil.
"When I was a boy and had no sense I got my pecker stuck in an electric fence..Well it curled my hair and tickled my balls, and made me shit in my overalls"
Don't you think
It’s BECAUSE of the injury that he came out so early? What if he suffers a career ending injury b/c he played that one extra year of college ball? That’s why the NCAA is so tyrannical. They make these guys work for free, for a mandatory 3 years. Yet, too many of these players who would’ve had a chance to make some money for their talent and toil get injured, permanently.
Well..
That could very well be but what NFL team is going to be willing to sign a guy with two years of college ball and a bad back?
"When I was a boy and had no sense I got my pecker stuck in an electric fence..Well it curled my hair and tickled my balls, and made me shit in my overalls"
Gronk is a very good player
but no need for TE at all in this Draft and there are plenty good ones in this draft that can catch the ball and also be taught how to be serviceable blockers. The TE depth in this draft is good but I dont think any of the TE’s have more potential than Boss or even Beckum, if Beckum can get integrated into the offense more he would eliminate the need for a 5th WR on the team whatsoever, he is that good to me so I think we are straight at the TE spot, Bear Pascoe is alright too especially as a blocker.
Peyton May Have The Wins!!
But Eli Will Have The Rings!!!
Rolando McClain, Brian Price, John Jerry, Jamar Chaney, Deji Karim, Kenny Alfred, Rafael Priest....... April 22-24th.
I forgot
about the Bear man, I say go UDFA at TE, least of our concerns at this point.
by Great Gatsby on Apr 17, 2010 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
I would
rather have the Zoltan in round 7, and another UDFA kickoff specialist than a TE.
I agree GG..Bring on the "Zoltan"!!
"When I was a boy and had no sense I got my pecker stuck in an electric fence..Well it curled my hair and tickled my balls, and made me shit in my overalls"
Isn't Boss
at the very least a decent blocker? If he’s not, there’s even more fault to be found with the way he’s used: there seems to be almost unanimous BBV agreement that he’s a dynamite receiver who should be given more attention as a target for Eli. if he’s primarily a blocker and can’t do an adequate job there…?
I want to see Bear get a shot to make the squad. Call me shallow (or callow, for that matter) but with a name like that I’d be delighted if he proved to be good enough to stick.
I’m all for Zoltan, too. The name’s a bonus. Call him Zero—he never misses. Zero Zoltan. Zoltan, the big Z. Z’s the man, the man who can. Z….
From what I've seen of Boss
He is a pretty good run blocker for a starting TE (as in not a 300 lb converted OL just to block).
His pass blocking is very mediocre though.
by mclaren_is_the_best on Apr 18, 2010 1:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Aye, there's the rub
If that’s his area of weakness, it’s the same area where we need him on the field (to take advantage of his receiving skills.) He has to focus on improving that part of his game. He’s a good athlete. Pope is a good coach. Boss should improve.
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