Top 30 athletes under 30

12. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots – 26 years old

There were a lot of great players drafted in the 2010 NFL Draft. Many of them will have stellar careers when it’s all said and done, and some may even enter the Hall of Fame one day.

But regardless of names like Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy — who also fell victim the multi-sport dimension of this list — it’s difficult to comprehend that 41 other players were drafted ahead of Rob Gronkowski.

The 6-foot-6, 265-pound former Arizona Wildcat has become the (unchallenged) best tight end in football. Moreover, he’s probably the game’s most deadly offensive threat. There is absolutely no one who can guard him — except King Kong, according to Rex Ryan.

Gronk had a “quiet” rookie season in 2010 with 42 catches for 10 touchdowns. We all know Tom Brady loves to spread the ball around, but when do you think it clicked in his head that he should be throwing to No. 87 more often?

Whenever it was, Brady definitely realized it before the 2011 season. Gronk went off for 17 touchdowns and 1,327 yards on 90 catches. Seven of Brady’s 39 touchdowns that year went to Aaron Hernandez, so you could say Gronk kind of missed out on those seven scores.

Unfortunately, Gronk missed 14 games over the next two seasons and tallied just 15 touchdowns and 1,382 yards on 94 receptions. Imagine if he had been healthy for those two years. He might have reached 70 receiving touchdowns by now instead of the 58 he’s sitting at.

No disrespect to Tony Gonzalez, but it’s hard to think Gronk won’t go down as the best tight end ever if he stays healthy. Gonzalez finished with 111 receiving touchdowns in 17 years, but he didn’t have a legitimate quarterback for most of that time.

Gronk has Brady. That should tell you all you need to know.

Next: No. 11 Odell Beckham Jr.