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8 most essential players on Patriots roster

By Connor Fulton

Dec 13, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) reacts during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) reacts during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Rob Gronkowski Patriots
Feb 6, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and tight end Rob Gronkowski on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors award ceremony at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Rob Gronkowski

2015 story: A scary, scary moment in Week 11 against the Denver Broncos managed to not destroy Gronk’s knee again, but it did keep him out of the next game. In total, Gronk caught 72 passes for 1,172 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Why he’s essential: Simply put, Gronk is the best football player on the planet right now. He could just as easily swap the No. 8 and the No. 7 on his jersey and play as a linebacker, he’s just that good. Defenses cannot consistently cover Gronk, and when he has the ball, they can’t consistently tackle him. When Gronk is in the huddle, it gives his teammates greater confidence that they can accomplish the task at hand.

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What would happen if Gronk got hurt in 2016: The Patriots’ offense would shrink in complexity without the mammoth tight end on the field. Martellus Bennett would assume the majority of pass catching duties for the tight end group, and greater expectations would be placed on Julian Edelman to pick up slack in the aerial attack.

Recent news about Gronk: He missed some offseason workouts, but that was more of a precautionary measure more than anything.

Next: 10 most promising sophomore pros on Pats’ roster

Who’s missing from this list? Comment below.

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