A ranking to drink to?

First, a well-respected gambler and stat researcher had him at No. 10.

Now a gaggle of suits, coaches, scouts and players have Bucs tight end Rob Gronkowski ranked a little higher.

Over at BSPN, Jeremy Fowler is offering a daily list of best players at their positions based on votes by a panel of some 50 folks who collect a check in the NFL.

Yesterday, Joe brought word that noted handicapper Warren Sharp believes Gronk is the league’s No. 10 tight end. The BSPN panel sees Gronk much higher.

Try No. 4 overall.

One coach told Fowler that despite being beaten up two years ago, when Gronk last played, Gronk was always there to deliver when the Belicheats needed a play.

Also, he’s well-rested, and that’s another reason The 31-year-old Gronk received a first- and second-place vote in this process. Don’t be surprised if Tampa Bay minimizes his snaps during the season, a luxury afforded by having veterans Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard on the roster.

Clearly, he has lost a step from peak 2014-15. “Over 16 weeks, legs will be challenges,” a longtime NFL offensive coach said. “One game, I’ll take him. If we talk about receiving and blocking, not sure he’s top five. But the way many see it, 70% Gronk is still better than most — especially with Tom Brady throwing to him up the seam.

“Outside of the top guys, who’s really better than Gronk, still?” the coach asked. “Not many.”

Joe just has a hunch that Gronk will be a force early, especially in the red zone. Why? Because without an offseason, park-violating, home-invading, NFLPA-ignoring Bucs quarterback Tom Brady has a lot of catching up to do, as do the rest of his new teammates.

Brady and Gronk obviously know each other well. When someone, anyone, is in doubt, he leans to what he knows almost like an impulse. So Joe expects Gronk to be big early.

The key will be the other tight ends, Cam Brate and O.J. Howard getting acclimated quickly to Brady so the Bucs can save Gronk and his legs for important games in December, and hopefully in January.