Julian Edelman, Gronk name QB they'd want if Tom Brady never existed

USA Today

4 hours ago

Imagine a world where seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady didn't exist. What current NFL quarterback would be the best to captain the ship under center with Rob Gronkowski at tight end and Julian Edelman at wide receiver?
Gronkowski and Edelman both chimed in on the hypothetical quarterback switch with two different answers. Most would expect the two to choose Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl winner. However, Gronkowski instead went with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, while Edelman chose Cincinnati Bengals signal-caller Joe Burrow.
"Josh Allen, I love his game. It reminds me of myself at the quarterback position. That was a no-brainer for me. That was the first quarterback that popped up in my head," said Gronkowski on the Dudes on Dudes podcast.
Edelman agreed that Allen would be a good choice, and he'd be happy with that option. But he ultimately decided to take things in a different direction.
"I would love Josh Allen, but I would love to have Burrow," said Edelman. "I mean, you would love to have Mahomes. Our offense is a little different. There's a little more drop-back pass. I don't know, I mean, Mahomes is pretty good, too, but I think Burrow. I don't want someone running as much as Mahomes on those third downs. I want them throwing because I want those third downs."
Allen is the reigning NFL MVP, and Burrow put together an MVP-caliber season last year, despite his team letting him down at every turn.
Both would have thrived in an offense with the greatest tight end of all time and one of the all-time great slot receivers as go-to weapons. With that said, it's hard to envision anyone other than Brady throwing to Edelman and Gronkowski.
The trio cemented a legacy together in New England that might never be topped.
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