I've been going NUTS since the draft over the lack of a TE pick even though we could have had our pick of Smith, Knox, Warring, and Sternberger. All were fine prospects though Smith is really an HB who I didn't want unless it was at 56.
Not only that we drafted a worthy pick in the 2nd, although at a position we currently have SIX CB's who have started at least one game last season. We grabbed 2 C's although we currently have a very good one under contract for 2 more years. We grabbed a good G although we already have 2 of the better G's in the league and a solid back up in Karras. And instead of drafting a DT or TE, we draft ANOTHER RB although we have 4 good guys at the position already. To say this draft was baffling would be an understatement.
But that being said, you make a great point. Maybe this ISN'T about replacing Gronk. And it's not about how you attack the field in your passing game, but rather from what position you attack it from.
So instead of having a TE threatening the seam you threaten it say with a slower, but still a lot faster than most TE's from the slot. And he still has enough speed to run all of Gronks outside routes.
What you DON'T have is Gronk to block on the line. You can solve part of that problem by having one of the PLETHORA of OLmen we have lining up outside the OT.
So just maybe the sky isn't falling just yet and we don't have to make a big trade for a guy like Roudolph. We just have to redistribute the attack threats with the talent that already exists on the team and go from there