Jalen Ramsey is not afraid to speak his mind about any player in the NFL, and arguably the best tight end to ever play is the latest to find himself in the Jacksonville Jaguars star’s crosshairs.
In a recent feature for ESPN the Magazine, Ramsey spoke with Mina Kimes about going up against Rob Gronkowski. As far as Ramsey is concerned, Gronk really isn’t that good.
“I don’t think Gronk’s good,” Ramsey said. “Let me say — I don’t think Gronk is as great as people think he is. … Any time Gronk has been matched up with a corner, he’s had a very bad game — and that corner has had a very good game.”
Ramsey said he had some members of the Jaguars’ staff pull analytics before the AFC Championship Game last year, and he realized that Gronkowski struggles more when squaring off against opposing cornerbacks rather than linebackers or safeties. As Kimes notes, his catch rate drops from 71 percent to 56 percent when he lines up on the perimeter instead of in the slot or on the line of scrimmage.
Ramsey also noted that Gronk did “literally nothing” in the AFC title game, though he left before halftime and did not return because of a concussion. The tight end finished the game with just one catch.
Gronkowski isn’t the only player with Patriots connections whom Ramsey doesn’t respect, as he also described Danny Amendola as “terrible” and one of many receivers Tom Brady has made look good.
“Tom could take me as a receiver and I’d be a first-team All-Pro,” Ramsey said.
This, of course, is becoming a common theme for Ramsey. He has already openly bashed several NFL quarterbacks this offseason, and he clearly doesn’t regret it. As long as the Jaguars have one of the best defenses in the NFL again this season, he should continue to back most of his trash talk up.
