Rob Gronkowski is the newest member of the “Red Jacket” Club. If teams knew then what they know now, would the second half of the New England Patriots dynasty Gronk helped build have been reshaped if the great tight end went higher in the 2010 NFL Draft?
On April 29, 2026, the Patriots announced Gronkowski as the 38th inductee of the team’s Hall of Fame, joining legends like former teammates Tom Brady and 2025’s inductee Julian Edelman. What Gronk has in common with those greats is that he wasn’t a first-round pick and is considered one of the steals of the 2010 draft.
Why Rob Gronkowski’s rise defines the 2010 NFL Draft
In an honor that cements his status as one of the most dominant offensive weapons during his nine-year run in Foxboro, it is really a celebration of that NFL Draft, when the Patriots selected Gronkowski with the No. 42 pick in that draft marking one of the best draft picks Bill Belichick ever made.
A treasure on the field and a fireball of energy off the field, Gronkowski grew from a second round pick out of the University of Arizona, to one of the hardest to defend playmakers in NFL history as Patriots owner Robert Kraft proudly summed up.
"Rob Gronkowski's performance on the field was extraordinary, but it was his infectious energy and consistently positive presence that truly set him apart," said Kraft, per the team’s official site. "He always brightened everyone's day. He earned the respect of coaches and teammates through his work ethic, preparation and unselfish approach, while redefining what it meant to play his position. Rob became a fan favorite almost immediately and remained the standard at tight end for nearly a decade. We look forward to celebrating his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame and, in time, the Pro Football Hall of Fame."
With the Pro Football Hall of Fame likely next, the era in which he dominated as arguably one of the best tight ends in football was filled with accolades.
A 3-time Super Bowl Champion, a 5-time Pro Bowl selection, a 4-time First-team All-Pro and the single season record holder for receiving touchdowns, the man known as Gronk will go down as the best second-round pick in franchise history, and one of the best draft picks ever to wear a Patriots uniform
The other stars from 2010, and where Gronkowski fits now
Looking back at that 2010 NFL Draft, Gronkowski was a first-round prospect with back injury concerns that pushed him down the draft board and into the hands of Brady and the Patriots. It was considered a risk at the time, but in all, it was considered a risk at the time, but it proved to be a terrific move by the Patriots who took another tight end in the fourth round of that draft.
What was also notable in that draft is the amount of star power selected. Sam Bradford was the No. 1 overall pick selected by the then-St. Louis Rams. That was also the draft of defensive stars like Gerald McCoy, Eric Berry, Earl Thomas, Ndamukong Suh and Devin McCourty who was the Patriots first-round selection in that draft. That was also a draft that saw Antonio Brown selected with the 195 overall pick in the draft.
In a re-draft of the top 10, where would Gronkowski be selected if teams knew then what they knew now?
2010 NFL Re-Draft: Top 10
Selection | Team | Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
No. 1 | St. Louis Rams | Antonio Brown | WR | Central Michigan |
No. 2 | Detroit Lions | Gerald McCoy | DT | Oklahoma |
No. 3 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Trent Williams | OT | Oklahoma |
No. 4 | Washington Commanders | Earl Thomas III | S | Texas |
No. 5 | Kansas City Chiefs | Rob Gronkowski | TE | Arizona |
No. 6 | Seattle Seahawks | Eric Berry | S | Tennessee |
No. 7 | Cleveland Browns | Geno Atkins | DT | Nebraska |
No. 8 | Oakland Raiders | Ndamukong Suh | DT | Nebraska |
No. 9 | Buffalo Bills | Jimmy Graham | TE | Miami (FL) |
No. 10 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Jason Pierre-Paul | DE | South Florida |
Despite winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Bradford did not materialize into a franchise-caliber quarterback. With the No. 1 overall pick, Brown in his most dominant form would be the top pick of the draft with Gronkowski going No. 5 overall to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Imagine that!
Although it’s hard to tell what type of career Gronkowski would’ve had not catching the ball from Brady, he would’ve still been one of the best playmaking tight ends in the league, especially given the success of Travis Kelce. Speaking of Kelce, would he have ended up elsewhere if the Chiefs had taken Gronk?
This redraft would’ve changed the direction of several football teams, including the Patriots who rode the dominance of the great tight end for nearly a decade. Now he’s etched in franchise history as one of the faces of the organization and proud Patriots Hall-of-Fame inductee.
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