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Denver Broncos breakout players for 2017: Paxton Lynch leads the charge

By Sayre Bedinger

Jun 13, 2017; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch (12) throws during minicamp at UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2017; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch (12) throws during minicamp at UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 13, 2017; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos tight end Jake Butt (80) during minicamp at UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2017; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos tight end Jake Butt (80) during minicamp at UCHealth Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Jake Butt, Tight End

Andy Tallon, Staff Writer

With the first pick of the fifth round of the 2017 Draft, the Broncos selected one of the biggest steals of the draft – Michigan tight end Jake Butt…

Concerns over a torn ACL caused him to slide down the board where the Broncos opportunistically plucked him. While Butt was unable to participate in the pre-draft process as he recovered, he is one of the more physically gifted athletes to come out of the draft this year. Butt has an ideal blend of size (standing at 6’6” and weighing nearly 250lbs) that translates to mismatches for defenses. He can separate effectively from linebackers and will contest 50/50 balls with safeties to box them out with his height and strength.

Once healthy, Butt, a traditional in-line tight end, fills a void in a positional area that the Broncos are sorely lacking in talent and depth. Butt, a stand out star and leader for the Wolverines, is the total package when it comes to versatility. For the run heavy schemes deployed by the Broncos, he provides solid blocking ability to help open up holes in the running game.

As he knee gets stronger, Butt has the ability to shine as a breakout receiver.

Butt should quickly become a security blanket on passing downs for whichever QB wins the starting job this fall. He is a polished route runner with soft and reliable hands, evidenced by his 43 receptions in 2016. This stat for Broncos fans is reassuring, as a whopping 29 of them being caught for first downs.  

Butt also provides invaluable leadership to the locker room after being voted a team captain by his peers. To go along with this honor, he also won the Mackey Award – the nation’s best tight end his senior year.  The scheme adaptability and his penchant for both catching and blocking make him one of the most well rounded players at tight end.

In today’s pass happy NFL, it is crucial to have a multi-faceted tight end that can contribute in all aspects of the offense. If Butt is able to take the field in 2017, he will have an immediate impact on a team desperate for production from the tight end group. If this happens, he can help push the Broncos back to the playoffs as the spark on offense they need.

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