One of the best parts about the NFL Scouting Combine is that you get to see all the future NFL stars before they hit it big. Some players you know right away are going to be great, while others may surprise you down the road.

Take New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski for exampe, who may very well be the best tight end to ever play the game. His size and strength make it virtually impossible for defenders to take him down alone, and as a two-time Super Bowl champion, Gronk has all but punched his ticket to the Hall of Fame.

But not many people predicted Gronk would be the all-time great he is. Take a look at the below 2010 NFL Combine video of Gronk over on YouTube.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-_n2GMgqMM&w=480&h=360%5D

Also, take a look at his combine profile below from NFL.com. It’s interesting that the last line says Gronk could be a “quality” starting tight end. I think that’s the understatement of the century.

Gronkowski made an immediate impact when he arrived at the University of Arizona and has been a standout tight end when he has been healthy enough to stay on the field. Unfortunately he has missed a total of 16 games over the past two years due to injuries or illness. He has an elite combination of size, speed and athleticism for the position and while he lacks great downfield speed he can be an effective receiver at virtually all levels of the passing tree. He is a tough, no nonsense type of blocker but still needs some work on his blocking techniques. If he can stay healthy he could provide a team with a quality starting tight end.

Finally, here’s a description of Gronk’s main weakness. It’s interesting to see this because injuries and durability have been an issue of late with Gronk in his career. He’s had multiple surgeries, including back surgery this past December that ended his year.