Rob Gronkowski is one of the key members of the New England Patriots. That’s out of the question, as he might be the team’s second best player only behind Tom Brady.
The 28-year-old tight end has established himself as one of the most dominant players in the league. A nightmare matchup for any defense, Gronk can make an impact in a number of ways. He can block and open spaces for the running backs. He can also catch short passes and gain YAC. But where he excels the most is in the long game, because his combination of speed and strength make him almost impossible to stop.
The numbers are there for anyone who wants to see them. Even though Gronkowski has struggled with injuries throughout his career, he’s an absolute beast when healthy. Last year he couldn’t play in the Super Bowl, but he played a key role during the regular season. Gronkowski only featured in eight games, but he still finished the year with 25 receptions, 540 yards and three touchdowns. That’s impressive considering he was always limited in some capacity.
Of course, the injury history is a concern. Gronkowski hasn’t played a full season in the last five years, and only reached the 15-game mark two times over that span. That shouldn’t matter, though. He’s more than capable to produce, and he’s an integral part of the Patriots offense. And due to this, he’s now the highest-paid TE in the NFL thanks to a restructured deal that will pay him up to $10.75 million in 2017.
The numbers of the deal are a bit confusing, as there are three separated tiers. And his performance will determine his salary. He would get between $10.75M and $6.75M, but it would vary on several incentives that go from playing time and catches, to All-Pro status.
Gronkowski’s new contract – and the status of the NFL’s highest-paid TE – are absolutely deserved. That last distinction belonged to Jimmy Graham until a few weeks ago, but let’s face it: the Seattle Seahawks TE is not the dominant player he once was. He hasn’t been able to replicate what he did with the New Orleans Saints, and it’s fair to see Gronk above him when it comes to salary. After all, the Patriots star is on track to become one of the all-time greats at the position.
He has the numbers and the popularity. Now he also has the salary that shows it.