Detroit Lions to draft their own Rob Gronkowski in first round?

The Detroit Lions infamously took Eric Ebron in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Would they dare to take another tight end that early again?

The Detroit Lions knew they needed more of a tight end presence last season. After releasing Eric Ebron last offseason after four years of disappointing play, the Lions were in the market for a capable replacement.

Unfortunately, money was an issue in landing any big name free agents and Detroit was left with the veterans like Luke Willson and Levine Toilolo.

Here’s what Lions’ general manager Bob Quinn told the Detroit Free Press recently about the team’s poor tight end situation last year.

"“We went into last offseason … we made many efforts at signing everybody that was available on the street. And ultimately it came down to dollars and cents, and we didn’t get any of those top guys and we got the guys who we got, and some of those guys performed well for us.”"

Certainly not a resounding endorsement from Quinn, but a correct assessment. Willson racked up 13 receptions for 87 yards in 14 games. Toilolo bested him with 21 catches for 263 yards and a touchdown. Both players are scheduled to once again become free agents next month.

During the week of last year’s draft, the Lions and the New England Patroits were in discussions about a possible trade for future Hall of Famer tight end Rob Gronkowski. But the 29-year old threaten to retire rather than leave his quarterback, Tom Brady.

Now the Lions find themselves in the same exact situation they were in last offseason, in need of a playmaking tight end. But this time around, will the Lions decide to draft that player instead? Back in 2014, Detroit used the 10th overall selection to draft Ebron, with terrible results. Now, they own the eighth overall pick in the 2019 draft. Would they dare draft a tight end that high again?

The tight end class appears to be chock-full of talent. But if the Lions decide they want to land their own version of Rob Gronkowski in the upcoming draft, the name to watch is Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson.

The 6-foot-5, 234 pound tight end is considered by many to be the best player at his position. An excellent blocker and receiver, Hockenson is surprising quick and nimble with the agility to run great routes and a second-gear to gobble up yards after the catch. He’s simply the entire package.

Although eighth overall is fairly high to draft a tight end based on current projections, the Detroit Lions could trade back and select T.J. Hockenson later in the first round while also picking up additional draft ammunition.