Gronk can become highest paid tight end in ’17 under new Pats deal
By Adam Mankuta
Gronk has a chance to be paid like the best tight end in the game, which he is when healthy.
The New England Patriots and superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski have re-structured his contract, affording him the opportunity to more than double his 2017 salary from $5.25M to $10.75M according to ESPN’s Adam Shefter (via Gronkowski’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus).
Gronkowski is betting on himself, as a newly re-structured contract with the Patriots can make the entertaining tight end the highest paid player at his position for the 2017 season. Gronk is coming off another injury shortened season which saw him only appear in eight games, catching 25 passes with just three touchdowns.
The latest deal is broken into three tiers:
- The first tier, where Gronk would earn the full amount of $10.75M, would result from him either participating in 90 percent of the plays, catching 80 balls, accumulating over 1,200 receiving yards or being named an All Pro. He is a four-time All-Pro.
- The second tier, which would earn Gronkowski a nice raise to $8.75M, would result in him playing in 80 percent of the plays, catching 70 balls, accumulating 1,000 receiving yards or catching 12 touchdown passes (he has caught 12 or more touchdowns only twice during his career).
- The third and final tier makes his 2017 salary $6.75M and would result from him playing in 70 percent of the offensive snaps, catching 60 balls, accumulating 800 receiving yards or catching 10 touchdown passes (a figure he has attained five times).
When removing last years injury plagued campaign, in the three proceeding years, Gronkowski would have earned only $6.75 in 2013 (when he was limited to seven games due to injury), but would have earned the $10.75 in 2014 and 2015 as he was named a first team All-Pro in both seasons.
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From a fantasy football perspective, this is positive news for Gronk believers. A motivated and healthy Gronkowski will pay big dividends as he attempts to capitalize on this new massive deal. Despite offseason acquisitions like Rex Burkhead, Mike Gillislee, Brandin Cooks and Dwayne Allen, Gronkowski will remain the team’s best red-zone threat and if healthy, should easily reach either the $8,75M figure (from catching 70+ passes) or the $10.75M guaranteed figure (by being named first team All-Pro).