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NFL Rankings: 10 best tight ends in the league

By Brad Rowland

New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) dunks over the goal post following a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during a preseason game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (80) dunks over the goal post following a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans during a preseason game at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) prior to the game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) prior to the game against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

2) Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

If health wasn’t an issue, Rob Gronkowski might be the best player in the NFL. That is, quite obviously, high praise for “Gronk”, but the numbers have been staggering when he’s on the field. During his last full season in 2012, Gronkowski amassed 1,327 yards and 17 touchdowns despite sharing the workload with both Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez, and in less than 7 games last season, he accumulated 592 yards and four touchdowns.

Gronkowski possesses a unique blend of size (6-foot-6, 265 pounds, brute strength, speed and hands, and that makes him virtually impossible to stop, especially when paired with Tom Brady. He is perhaps the most dangerous red zone target in the game today, and because of the force by which he plays, defenders seemingly bounce off of his body at every turn.

Guaranteeing 16 games of production for any player in the NFL is an impossibility, but if we could, Gronkowski would be number one on this list, and he would be in line for 1,200+ yards and double-digit touchdowns on a yearly basis.

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