Gronk Says Current NFL Tight End 'Is On Track To Be Better Than Myself'

Four-time Super Bowl champion tight end Rob Gronkowski said Las Vegas Raiders rookie Brock Bowers was "on track to be better than myself" during an appearance on Up & Adams Tuesday (September 17).

Bowers' teammate, three-time All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams , said the rookie "showed some promise of looking like the guy that's on the screen with us right now" while speaking to Gronkowski, who he called "one of the best to ever do it," and host Kay Adams .

"I agree with that, Davante, I mean, Brock Bowers, I was a big fan of him when he was at Georgia," Gronkowski responded. "The guy's a winner, the guy's a playmaker whenever the ball's thrown to him. I love his explosiveness after the catch and I feel like he's on track to be better than myself. I mean, I don't think he can dominate in the trenches the way I dominated in the trenches but just overall as a pass catching tight end I think he can surpass me in many situations.

"He already has 15 catches, the most by any rookie of all-time in their first two games as a tight end so shoutout to Brock Bowers, I'm a big fan, I can't wait to continue watching him.

Bowers, 21, a two-time national champion and two-time John Mackey Award winner, and Unanimous All-American at Georgia, was selected by the Raiders at No. 13 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. The rookie tied Adams for a game-high nine receptions and finished second behind him with 98 yards during Las Vegas' 26-23 win against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday (September 15).

Gronkowski, who retired in 2022, ranks third all-time among tight ends in touchdown receptions (92), sixth in receiving yards (9,286) and 10th in receptions (621).