Patriots draft-day flashback: Rob Gronkowski

Five years ago today Belichick used the 42ndpick of the 2010 NFL Draft – a second-round selection – on Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowski. The big pass-catcher had missed his final college season with a back injury and was seen as a huge medical risk. Listen to Mel Kiper's comments as the announcements are made:



Gronk has since become a League-leading Tight End, perhaps one of the best of all time. I think it's safe to say, Bill made a good call!

For some perspective as to why Belichick chose to take a gamble on Gronk, go check out this cool interview

Kipper wondered why the Patriots took Gronk instead of Sergio Kindle

Good call Mel

Lmao honesty time I was so upset was passed on Kindle and even more upset when the Ravens selected him.
I hated the Hernandez pick because I wanted defense.
Loved the Mccourty pick.
So glad to be wrong about not drafting Kindle.

Mel Kipper is a freakin genius. He has managed to make himself millions by being wrong more often than most meteorologists. I'd like to get a gig like that.

OMG I never thought I would say this, but Gronk looks tiny!!! He is a different level of beast now

Chiuba E. Obele said:

Five years ago today Belichick used the 42ndpick of the 2010 NFL Draft – a second-round selection – on Arizona tight end Rob Gronkowski. The big pass-catcher had missed his final college season with a back injury and was seen as a huge medical risk. Listen to Mel Kiper's comments as the announcements are made:



Gronk has since become a League-leading Tight End, perhaps one of the best of all time. I think it's safe to say, Bill made a good call!

For some perspective as to why Belichick chose to take a gamble on Gronk, go check out this cool interview

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Good job Mel, lol

Stiff, not fluid, doesn't adjust well to a poorly thrown ball - in line blocker [draft genius, Mel Kiper].

It's hard to overstate what an idiot this guy is, as is anyone who thinks he knows what a good football player is.

I remember Irsay saying last year (I think) how pleased he was that they didn't draft Gronk because of the injuries that Gronk has had, what an idiot. I do wonder where he would have gone in 2010 if people knew how good he would be, defiantly top ton but 2010 was a good draft class

ChrisR2223 said:

Lmao honesty time I was so upset was passed on Kindle and even more upset when the Ravens selected him.
I hated the Hernandez pick because I wanted defense.
Loved the Mccourty pick.
So glad to be wrong about not drafting Kindle.

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I brought this up earlier in another thread earlier. I wanted Kindle bad. When we moved in front of the Ravens, I was certain we were taking him. I was disappointed by the Gronk pick simply because I wanted Kindle but deep down I knew it was the right decision, even if I wasn't happy about it.

It reminded me of 2004. I wanted Steven Jackson big time. But I knew Wilfork was a good pick.

meatface said:

I remember Irsay saying last year (I think) how pleased he was that they didn't draft Gronk because of the injuries that Gronk has had, what an idiot. I do wonder where he would have gone in 2010 if people knew how good he would be, defiantly top ton but 2010 was a good draft class

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Honestly, I don't know why Irsay says anything at all. Every time he opens his mouth, he sounds like he's back on drugs.

I don't know why he'd even comment on another team's player who is injured. And I really don't know why he'd comment on that pick after he drafted Jerry Hughes ahead of Gronk and got next to nothing out of him for 3 years before trading him for Kelvin Sheppard, who did pretty much nothing for a year before signing with the Dolphins.

But yes Jim, tell us all about what you would have done in 2010 since you did such a great job. Hughes, Pat Angerer, Kevin Thomas, Jacques McClendon (copying/pasting some of these names because I have no clue who they are), Brody Eldridge, Ricardo Mathews, Kavell Conner, Ray Fisher, and you're critiquing our draft pick? **** you! Focus on your own ****ty team.

This is my problem with Kiper. Look, he can be proud that he is among the most informed "non inner circle" guys out there. Based on the limited information he has and the bits and pieces he gets fed, there's no shame in trying to put it all together despite being wrong a lot. What I can't stand is how he arrogantly disagrees with many picks, acting like he either knows more about a player or would be a better strategist for a team. Case in point here. Does this amateur really think he is in a better position to assess the Patriots needs and talent evaluation than Belichick? The reaction should be, "perhaps the Patriots know something I don't" rather than his knee jerk "Wow! I can't believe they just made this mistake.! They should have drafted so-and-so." As if teams haven't invested millions of dollars into the draft process with loads of research, scouts, and front office opinions influencing their decision.

I love how Kiper said that Gronk cannot catch a ball that isn't on the mark. Is there a guy with a bigger catch radius in the NFL than Gronk? Maybe it is just all the balls thrown to him within three feet are on the mark according to Kiper.

meatface said:

I remember Irsay saying last year (I think) how pleased he was that they didn't draft Gronk because of the injuries that Gronk has had, what an idiot. I do wonder where he would have gone in 2010 if people knew how good he would be, defiantly top ton but 2010 was a good draft class

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Was he prouder about the fact that he drafted a DE in the first round who didn't fit his system at all and was gone from the team after three years?

That draft as a whole was a smashing success. The Patriots managed to pull in one of the best FS's in the league, the best TE in the league (who may retire as the GOAT, depending on health), a violent run-stuffing ILB, and one of the better move TE's in the NFL during that period. If Hernandez didn't decide to go on a GTA-style killing spree, that draft would be a smashing success to date.

I guess that there are, at most, a dozen really game-changing non-quarterbacks in the league at any one time. And the Gronk is one of them. Great, great draft pick -- as it turned out!

Sean Lee was on the board... he's become a pretty high end Mike backer. Not that I'm unhappy with how it worked out for us with Hightower and Mayo inside.

I remember they showed War Room footage of Belichick in 2010, and he looked visibly deflated when the Bengals drafted Jermaine Gresham immediately before the Pats pick. Pats then traded back twice, passing up Demarious Thomas and Dez Bryant, to draft McCourty... and then took Gronkowski in the 2nd round.

Never really could figure out what Belichick was hoping with Gresham, that would make him react that way. But I imagine that he wanted Gresham in the 1st and... I dunno what... maybe McCourty at the top of the 2nd?

Regardless, getting McCourty and Gronkowski at the top of that draft worked out pretty damn well for us. Gresham has been good not great. Sometimes things just work out for the best.

Rob0729 said:

Was he prouder about the fact that he drafted a DE in the first round who didn't fit his system at all and was gone from the team after three years?

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he probably was too drunk/high to remember

Good call Mel on the adjustment.

PlainOldEd said:

Mel Kipper is a freakin genius. He has managed to make himself millions by being wrong more often than most meteorologists. I'd like to get a gig like that.

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Of course I have no way of validating this, but according to the internet....

rookBoston said:

I remember they showed War Room footage of Belichick in 2010, and he looked visibly deflated when the Bengals drafted Jermaine Gresham immediately before the Pats pick. Pats then traded back twice, passing up Demarious Thomas and Dez Bryant, to draft McCourty... and then took Gronkowski in the 2nd round.

Never really could figure out what Belichick was hoping with Gresham, that would make him react that way. But I imagine that he wanted Gresham in the 1st and... I dunno what... maybe McCourty at the top of the 2nd?

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You wouldn't happen to have a link to that video footage?