Dec 30, 2012; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Looking back at the 2010 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills made some great picks and like all teams, some picks they would like to have back. In teh 1st round CJ Spiller was taken with the 9th overall pick. At the time, the Bills had 2 other running backs on the roster, however no one can deny Spiller’s emergence as one of the leagues best backs. BUT it was in the second round where perhaps the biggest blunder was made. New England’s Tight End and Amherst native Rob Gronkowski was taken with the 42nd pick overall, one pick after the Bills drafted DT Torell Troup.
At the time, the Bills needed a defensive tackle, but over 3 seasons, Troup has registered 0.0 sacks, recorded only 31 tackles and has missed one full season. The very next season after Troup was drafted, the Bills ended up drafting Marcell Dareus with the 3rd overall pick. The Patriots on the other hand have one of the premier Tight Ends in the entire league and created an offensive revolution in the NFL by using BIG, ATHLETIC, FAST, SKILLED and DIVERSE men at the Tight End position. So what if, the Bills took the hometown boy over Troup in the draft?
Well, for starters, Scott Chandler would not be on the team currently. The Bills would not have plucked Chandler off of the Dallas Cowboys practice squad and Chandler could be fighting for a roster position elsewhere in the league. Bills Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick would have had an immediate safety valve in Gronkowski, who would not only set the touchdown record for Tight Ends in a season for Buffalo, but he superb blocking skills would have kept Fitzpatrick upright long enough to hit Stevie Johnson for big plays. The Bills would have finished with a better record in 2010, about “mid-pack” and instead of drafting Dareus, the Bills would have picked up DE JJ Watt or DE Ryan Kerrigan (both who are Pro Bowl players) to help stablize the Defensive Line.
The Bills would be attracting players at this point because the team would be getting better, so over paying for guys like Mario Williams would not occur and the Bills would get more bang for their buck. Yes, Ryan Fitzpatrick would still be on the team, but the Bills would also be able to take a flyer on the Quarterback of the future in a guy who is still unproven, like a Brock Osweiler or a (dare I say it?) Russell Wilson.
So that’s Chandler, Troup, Williams and Fitzpatrick in exchange for Gronkowski, Watt and Wilson….would you take it?
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