Injured Gronkowski considering NFL Draft

Arizona junior tight end Rob Gronkowski might be out for the season following back surgery, but that hasn’t stopped him from thinking about his NFL future.

He met with the media Wednesday and said he might consider entering the 2010 NFL Draft.

“It would definitely have to be the first round, else I won’t go at all,” Gronkowski told reporters.

Most expected the talented Gronkowski to enter the draft following this season. He has good size at 6-foot-6 and 258 pounds and is just as athletic as he is physical. With 47 receptions for 672 yards last season, he showed excellent hands and good route-running ability.

Gronkowski was considered by me to be the second best tight end prospect in the nation after Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham. Also out for the season, Gresham has said he’s entering the draft.

After undergoing surgery on a herniated disk and nerve damage in his back three weeks ago, it takes about three months to fully recover.

The likely scenario for Gronkowski is that after being fully recovered, Arizona would invite in some impartial scouts to watch him work out. They can then evaluate him and tell him what kind of round projection he’d get.

That would allow Gronkowski to determine if he’ll participate in the NFL Scouting Combine and enter the draft.

“I’m going to definitely look into the NFL -- you’ve always got to look at that option,” he said. “If I don’t like what I get back, I’m definitely going to come back.”