Michigan tight end Jake Butt would likely have been a second-round pick had he not torn his ACL for a second time, a blown knee in the Orange Bowl loss to Florida State. Instead he reportedly collected over $500,000 in insurance money and fell to the fifth round … and a perfect situation with the Denver Broncos.
Executive Vice President of Football Operations/General Manager John Elway said he was holding his breath that Butt would slip to them.
"Jake's not even close to the fifth round if he's not hurt," Elway said. "So, sometimes that's where you can get good value. If you're willing to be patient with them and give them time to get healthy, then we've got a darn good player."
DenverBroncos.com called him a perfect fit for what the Broncos like to do.
He is exactly the kind of tight end John Elway spoke of adding when he addressed the media Monday. Butt can work from the in-line alignment, next to the tackle. But his receiving skills, particularly in his crisp routes that allow him to create separation, make him a threat working in the slot and outside when needed.
At 246 pounds, he falls in the middle tier of this year's stacked tight-end class in terms of size. He brings more strength than early-round tight ends in the 230-239-pound range like Evan Engram (Giants, Round 1) and Gerald Everett (Rams, Round 2), but isn't in the 250-270-pound range like fellow mid-round choices Michael Roberts (Lions) and Jordan Leggett (Jets).
His willingness to involve himself in blocking should ensure that he eventually settles as an every-down tight end. His presence will not provide any kind of clue whether the play is a pass or a run.
They predicted he’d play extensively once he completes his knee rehabilitation, adding ‘he could be an every-down threat for years to come if his health holds up.' The second-team Associated Press All-American notched consecutive seasons of 45 receptions, 500 yards and three touchdowns and was two-time Big Ten Tight End of the Year.
He hopes to be back before the season starts. The last time he tore his ACL, he was back within seven months.
"That is ambitious, and ... when I tore my ACL the first time around, they told me, 'You're probably going to get redshirted or you won't play until Big Ten season,’” he said in a conference call. “I said, 'You know what? You guys can think that.' I ended up playing in week two, so I've always been ambitious. I think that's what helps me unlock my full potential, setting goals that many people might think are crazy and then going out there and doing it."
He breathed a sigh of relief and shared a cry with his parents when the Broncos finally took him. And after everything he’s endured, he insisted he wouldn’t do anything differently.
"It felt like the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders," Butt said. "It was tough to breathe there. I was just waiting and waiting for that phone to ring.
"I'll never regret playing in a football game in my life. I don't play football because of the money or the fame or the hype or anything. I play football because it's what I love to do. I was dedicated to my team at Michigan. I'm going to be a dedicated Denver Bronco, and it's never going to cross my mind to sit out of a game because of money or any other possibility.
“I'm out there and I'm going to give it my all every time I step on that field. I still have absolutely no regrets, and again, I'm just happy it worked out like this because I'm a Denver Bronco."
His new coach is happy he is.
"If he wasn't hurt, he would have been a top-two round guy," Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. "As an end-line blocker, he's very efficient, he's got great ball skills, great route runner - he was awesome in the red zone for Michigan the last two or three years."
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