With The First Pick
Fansided

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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IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 22: Tight ends Noah Fant #87 and T.J. Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrate a touchdown during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers on September 22, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 22: Tight ends Noah Fant #87 and T.J. Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes celebrate a touchdown during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers on September 22, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

Noah Fant | Iowa

Hockenson’s teammate, Noah Fant, offers NFL clubs a wide receiver in a tight end’s body and is a tailormade weapon for today’s passing game. He’s a competent run blocker and he’s physical enough in that department to not be considered a liability, but his real value comes with the ball in his hands.

Fant had 519 yards and seven touchdowns last season but flashed upside that goes way beyond his stats. He ran a 4.50 40-yard dash at 249 pounds and is rising up the first round so fast that he may have actually leapfrogged Hockenson as TE1.

The Patriots will face the same challenge to acquire Fant as they will with Hockenson; he isn’t going to last to the end of Round 1. If they want him, they’ll have to pony up.

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