With The First Pick
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Patriots will have plenty of options to replace Gronkowski in 2019 NFL Draft

By Bryan Perez

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots warms up prior to Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots warms up prior to Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 03: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots warms up prior to Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 03: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots warms up prior to Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

With Patriots star TE Rob Gronkowski announcing his retirement Sunday, New England is suddenly forced to focus on selecting his potential replacement in the early rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft.

The New England Patriots suffered a huge blow to their offense Sunday when superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski announced his retirement from the NFL. His impact on QB Tom Brady and the offense cannot be overstated, and his sudden departure has created a massive need heading into the 2019 NFL draft.

Fortunately for Bill Belichick and the Patriots, this year’s draft is loaded with talent at tight end. And while it’s impossible for New England to truly replace Gronkowski’s Hall-of-Fame level production, they’ll be able to add a talented rookie in the first round if they decide to go that route.

Here are four tight end prospects the Patriots can target in the first and second round.

BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 13: T.J. Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs for a touchdown against the Indiana Hossiers at Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 13: T.J. Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs for a touchdown against the Indiana Hossiers at Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

T.J. Hockenson | Iowa

Hockenson is considered this year’s top tight end prospect and has a style of play similar to Gronkowski. He has a physical mindset in the running game and is an above-average weapon as a receiver, too. Most importantly, he’s 251 pounds of pure intensity.

Hockenson finished 2018 with 49 catches for 760 yards and six touchdowns. He’s a Day-1 starter and just feels like a Patriot prototype.

The problem for New England, however, is Hockenson’s first-round value. There’s little-to-no chance he’ll be on the board at No. 32, so if he’s the Patriots’ guy, they’ll have to trade into probably the low-20’s in order to draft him.

Don’t be surprised if they do just that.

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