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Rob Gronkowski Reveals Where Tom Brady Would Rank Among Current Quarterbacks

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Sep 19, 2025 4:49 PM ET

There are a lot of bad quarterbacks in the NFL right now and a lot of teams that are dealing with injuries at the position that would gladly take any decent QB they can get their hands on. But where might Tom Brady rank right now among the current crop of QBs?

Kay Adams asked this question to Brady's longtime friend and teammate Rob Gronkowski. Appearing on Up & Adams, Gronkowski pointed out that Brady most likely wouldn't want to return to the NFL due to his age and how many hits he'd have to take.

“I would just say if Tom could not be hit at all, that’s probably why he is not playing anymore. Because you know, 48 years old, you get hit by a D-lineman that’s 23 years old,” Gronk said.

But Gronkowski then mused that if Brady knew he'd have a constant clean pocket and no risk of being hit, that Brady would be a top-12 quarterback right now.

“If he could not be hit at all, say he knew he was going to have a clean pocket every single time he stepped up, and he was playing in the NFL, I would say he’d be better than probably 20 of the starting quarterbacks right now, easily. He would be top 12. He would be top 12 right now,” Gronk explained.

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Reasonable or Laughable

There's no denying that Brady is one of the greatest throwers of the football ever even if he isn't historically the most accurate or boasting the strongest deep ball.

Brady's is ability to avoid getting sacked is one of the reasons that he had so much success in the first place. There were only five seasons in his entire 23-year career where he was sacked on more than 5% of his dropbacks and only one year (his first) where he took sacks on more than 6% of those dropbacks.

Believe it or not, he took sacks on just 3% of his dropbacks during his final three years in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady #12 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates as he is reflected in the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers defeated the Chiefs, 31-9. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

On the other hand, we've seen countless average or outright bad quarterbacks have some of the best games of their career when having a clean pocket. If Brady's opponents had a clean pocket in all of their games, he'd have far fewer losses.

But Brady is the GOAT, so he is somewhat entitled to the benefit of every doubt when it comes to NFL scenarios.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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