Jake Butt falls to Broncos in 5th round, nets over $500K in insurance
The Denver Broncos have selected tight end Jake Butt out of Michigan in the fifth round (145th overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Butt is as talented as any tight end in the draft but dropped to the fifth round because of a torn ACL suffered in Michigan's bowl game last season. Along with his NFL contract, Butt will take home $543,000 in loss-of-value insurance for dropping to the fifth round, according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.
Despite his injury, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the Broncos believe he will be ready for action by September. Grabbing a top talent in the fifth round is great value for the club, and John Elway recognized as much on Twitter after the pick.
We were holding our breath these last few picks hoping to get Michigan TE Jake Butt. A top-notch TE we're fortunate to select in the 5th.
— John Elway (@johnelway) April 29, 2017
Butt caught 46 passes for 546 yards and four touchdowns in 2016 and took home the John Mackey Award for the nation's top tight end.
Jake Butt Bio
Position: TE
School: Michigan
College Experience: Senior
Height: 6-5
Weight: 246 lbs.
Strengths
- Ideal size for the position at the NFL level.
- Versatile. Lines up as a true tight end with hand in the ground and flexed out wide.
- Works the middle of the field well. Understands the nuances of intermediate routes and how to get open.
- Good at exploiting zone coverage. Uses subtle moves to get open and give his quarterback a target in traffic.
Weaknesses
- Not a true deep or vertical threat. Won't be able to blow past linebackers down the seam.
- Loses speed getting in and out of his breaks.
- Never had massive production with Wolverines. Had just four touchdowns in his best season.
- Suffered torn ACL in bowl game and did not participate in the combine.