Rob Gronkowski and the top five tight ends in Buccaneers history

We now know what the future of Rob Gronkowski holds for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Here is where he stands in the Buccaneers’ past of tight ends.

When it comes to his football future, Rob Gronkowski has finally decided on what he wants to do. Obviously, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would have loved to have Gronk back, but they have done a great job this offseason preparing for life without him.

As far as the past goes, now that the retirement is official, we know where Gronk ranks based on his past with the Bucs as it relates to the other great tight ends in the history of the franchise. Here are the top five tight ends to put on a Buccaneers’ uniform.

Number five Buccaneers tight end: Ron Hall (1987-1993)

Ron Hall had the misfortune of playing during the heyday of the “Suckaneers” or the “Yucks” era of Tampa Bay football. You see kids after head coach John McKay was able to make the legendarily putrid expansion Bucs a winner, then-owner Hugh Culverhouse refused to pay quarterback Doug Williams what he wanted, and there went the franchise. That was after the 1982 season. Fans wouldn’t see light at the end of the tunnel until Tony Dungy arrived in 1996.

While the roster was essentially a graveyard, they weren’t COMPLETELY devoid of talent. Hall was one such talented player. Sure, his 209 catches for 2,422 yards and ten touchdowns in seven seasons in Tampa Bay won’t get him into the Hall of Fame, but for context, that yardage total is more than Kellen Winslow II.

Hall was at best a bright spot, and at worst a somewhat less-dim spot in an era of Buccaneers football full of darkness. The Bucs have never been known for great tight ends, so his ranking at number five is fair.