What more does Rob Gronkowski need for a Hall of Fame resume?

I suppose many would argue he could retire tomorrow and he would be in, but I would disagree with you, or say it is argumentative at the least. Terrell Davis played more games than Gronk's current total (with roughly four seasons at his peak) and TD will not make the Hall despite being a Super Bowl MVP, a dominating runner and at one point perhaps the best non-QB in the league.

Here is a brief article showing that it's nearly impossible to get in with less than seven years, as all of the members with less are from a different era.

http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/story.aspx?story_id=3282

Gronkowski might be the best tight end of all-time to win a Super Bowl (even by accomplishments, not just talent) as many great TEs, particularly of this era, never even made it to the big game.

So, how many more seasons do you think Gronkowski needs to play, and at what level, before he becomes an obvious Hall of Fame shoo-in?

He needs more longevity. He has only had two complete elite years. Needs at least two to three more.

Personally I think too much weight is given to final career stats, because (a) different eras produce different numbers, and (b) it gives, by comparison, the player with a lengthy career too much of an advantage. I'm more likely to look at (a) how many times a player was among the top-3 or top-5 at his position, and (b) how his best eight seasons stack up against another player's best eight seasons.

However, that's just me and not how voters necessarily look at a player. That being said, if Gronk can play at a high level in the way I mentioned above - i.e., eight solid seasons - then he is in. That means four more good years, and he should be a lock; he already is a 3-time pro bowler and a 2-time all-pro, to go along with being a vital part of a championship team. Less than four more good seasons and he still has a case, but it starts becoming debatable as his career numbers will be compared to guys like Tony Gonzalez who played much longer.

More seasons. I'm not saying this in the "he's been injured a lot and missed games" kind of way, because he has dominated enough to look past that. I say it in the "He's very young and hasn't been in the league that long, and you need more years for the hall of fame" kind of way.

Here's why Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end in NFL history | Shutdown Corner

I think you could possibly give him the Gale Sayers type consideration already if he were to be done for good today.

HOF TE Shannon Sharpe took 204 games to collect his 62 touchdowns .3 TDs per game
Gronk has played in 65 games and already has 54 TDs. .83 TDs per game

Gronks TD production is almost 3x what Sharpes was and Gronk is a superior blocker.

If Gronk continued playing at half production for the next 7 years he would still be a HOF lock.

If he plays as many games as Gonzales does he would have about 224 TDs which is twice as much as Gonzales. Rice leads the NFL with 208.

All of this when Gronk has missed a good solid season because of injuries. Gronk in his prime and can stay there he has a chance to go down as the greatest football player ever although he would have to keep up this incredible pace for a long time.

I say 7 more years of Gronk and he will probably end up with 140 TD and 11,000 yards and 800 receptions. Gonzales had 15K yds - Sharpe 10K yds) Sharpe has 815 receptions TG 1325

FYI Gronk would have to play 12 more 16 game seasons to match the amount of games TG played. 8o more games for Gronk will put him in the top 5 TDs all time.

It all comes down to heath.

Rob0729 said:

He needs more longevity. He has only had two complete elite years. Needs at least two to three more.

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Yep. Here is who is in now...

Dave Casper 1974-1984
Mike Ditka 1961-1972
John Mackey 1963-1972
Ozzie Newsome 1978-1990
Charlie Sanders 1968-1977
Shannon Sharpe 1990-2003
Jackie Smith 1963-1978
Kellen Winslow 1979-1987

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Clearly a top-level Gronk is or better than everyone on that list. Hes just as devastating of a blocker as Casper, better hands than Winslow and not quite, but close to being as smooth as Newsome and Sharpe.

His contemporaries T-Gon and Jason Witten are shoo-ins- and hes better than them.

Gronk's biggest obstacle to being a HoF is his style of play. I can't get the thought out of my mind of Gronk 5 years from now looking like Mark Bavaro and Ben Coates after being tackled.. In so much pain....taking forever to get up...each hit taking a week off their career.

He needs to keep assholes like Tj ward and Bernard pollard from diving at his knees/doing mma moves to his ankles.

Well, that is the problem. The league is now full of ******* punks with no respect who dive at knees because that is what sports is all about now and fans want the opposing teams players injured. Plus add in the fact that Gronk is full tilt full time and I cant see him lasting very long unfortunately.

Joey007 said:

I think you could possibly give him the Gale Sayers type consideration already if he were to be done for good today.

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They call that, "The Koufax Effect". It's when 5 years of sheer dominance burns brighter than 12 years of damn good.

Based on his first 4 seasons with 2 of them being "dominant" he needs 2-3 of those to be in that conversation.

Looking at these numbers again, Tony G must have been made of rubber.

jmt57 said:

Here's why Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end in NFL history | Shutdown Corner

Tight end A: 76 catches, 1,078 yards, 13 TDs, 14.2 yards per catch
Tight end B: 78 catches, 896 yards, 7 TDs, 11.4 yards per catch

The first set of numbers are Rob Gronkowski’s season averages, prorated to account for missed time due to injuries.

The second tight end is Tony Gonzalez, widely considered the best tight end in NFL history, and his prorated 16-game averages.

Maybe it’s time to start looking at Gronkowski in this way: Gonzalez had the greatest career for an NFL tight end (or perhaps Shannon Sharpe if you weigh Super Bowl rings in the conversation, and John Mackey is on the short list too), but Gronkowski is the best tight end ever at the peak of his ability.​

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And that analysis doesn't even consider that Gronk is the greatest partying tight end of all time.

Time. It's really as simple as that. He is already the most talented TE of all time now he just needs 3-4 more years to reach the most productive TE tier.

He needs to keep this up for several years and then stay productive for several more

robertweathers said:

They call that, "The Koufax Effect". It's when 5 years of sheer dominance burns brighter than 12 years of damn good.

Based on his first 4 seasons with 2 of them being "dominant" he needs 2-3 of those to be in that conversation.

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Well two, inlcuding one with a Super Bowl team just might do it. Worst case scenario now he ends up like Terrell Davis and struggles to get in (although being a regular finalist)

Joey007 said:

Well two, inlcuding one with a Super Bowl team just might do it. Worst case scenario now he ends up like Terrell Davis and struggles to get in (although being a regular finalist)

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Good point. If Gronk retires tomorrow he is right there with TD.

let's say gronk has 2-3 more great years and then he is out of the league. he would have similar career to Terrell Davis. will TD get in eventually? i think so. but it will take him awhile.

i think 5 more great seasons would do it. that would make him a 1st ballot.

wolverinejoe80 said:

let's say gronk has 2-3 more great years and then he is out of the league. he would have similar career to Terrell Davis. will TD get in eventually? i think so. but it will take him awhile.

i think 5 more great seasons would do it. that would make him a 1st ballot.

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So Jerome Bettis is in but Terrell Davis isn't.

This makes the baby Jesus weep.

Just needs longevity. Likely goes down as the GOAT tight end.