Legendary TE Rob Gronkowski shares a revelation about the Baltimore Ravens that will have their fans up in arms
For basically the entirety of their existence, the Baltimore Ravens have been one of the better franchises at building their team through the NFL Draft. However, it appears they made a bit of a blunder during the 2010 draft. While speaking during his "Dudes On Dudes" podcast with Julian Edelman, Future Hall of Fame tight […]
For basically the entirety of their existence, the Baltimore Ravens have been one of the better franchises at building their team through the NFL Draft. However, it appears they made a bit of a blunder during the 2010 draft.
While speaking during his "Dudes On Dudes" podcast with Julian Edelman, Future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski revealed that the Ravens planned to select him with the No. 25 overall pick, before ultimately trading it to the Denver Broncos and sliding back to the second round. (H/T Jordan Schultz)
The Broncos, who were led by coach Josh McDaniels at the time, took quarterback Tim Tebow at No. 25. In return, Baltimore received the 43rd, 70th, and 114th picks. With those, the Ravens selected linebacker Sergio Kindle and tight ends Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta.
Because of injuries and off the field incidents, Kindle was a high-risk, potential high-reward pick. Unfortunately, the Ravens didn't come anywhere close to getting the latter. Kindle appeared in just three games during his three-year stint with Baltimore before getting released in 2012. He never caught on with another team.
As for Dickson and Pitta, they were both solid players that made up a good TE duo, but neither come close to the caliber of Gronkowski. Pitta had a stellar 2012 season in which he caught 61 passes for 669 yards and seven touchdowns, including 14 receptions for 163 yards and three TDs during the postseason.
Dickson's time in Baltimore was short-lived, as he left for the Carolina Panthers after four seasons. Pitta lasted seven years, but his last few seasons were plagued with injuries. Meanwhile, Gronkowski played 11 seasons (nine with the New England Patriots, two with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), and finished his career with the sixth-most receiving yards and third-most TDs by a TE in league history.
Ironically, McDaniel returned to New England in 2012 and coached Gronkowski for seven years. Tebow also spent the 2013 preseason with the Patriots, but didn't make the final 53-man roster. Who knows what it would have been like to see Gronkowski in the Ravens' offense catching passes from Joe Flacco, and possibly even Lamar Jackson, but that's the lottery side of the NFL draft.
