20 Best NFL Players from Pac-12 Schools

Oct 25, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots won 30-23. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots won 30-23. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) scores a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) scores a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports /

. TE. Arizona. Rob Gronkowski. 2. player. 47

Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end in the NFL and it’s not even close. After six NFL seasons, you can make the argument that Gronkowski is the best tight end in NFL history. We’ll wait for his career to finish before making those bold statements, but he’s certainly on track for that to be the case.

However, there were serious concerns about Gronkowski’s NFL future when he was coming out of Arizona in 2010. He had a back injury that saw Gronkowski slip to the No. 42 pick where the New England Patriots wisely took the risk on the player who had 16 touchdowns in 22 college games.

The player with a larger-than-life personality had the football skills to match and had 10 touchdowns on 42 receptions in a platoon role as a rookie while making 11 starts. The player is affectionately known as “Gronk” and led the NFL with 17 touchdowns the next year on 90 receptions and 1,327 yards.

Those numbers are still career-bests for Gronkowski who returned to top form after only playing in 18 of a possible 32 games from 2012-2013.

Gronkowski has a staggering 65 touchdowns in only 80 games.

Next: 1. Aaron Rodgers