Denver Broncos 2017 rookie class review and predictions for 2018

Jake Butt, TE

Jake Butt was disappointingly lost for the entire 2017 season after initial optimism he was making great progress from his ACL injury.

The Broncos decided not to take any risks with the player they had a 2nd round grade on, and kept him on the shelf for the year.

That will likely turn out to be a wise decision.

Butt is going to be expected by many to compete for the starting tight end position in 2018, and rightly so. Prior to his knee injury at the end of the 2016-17 season, Butt was one of the best tight ends in the country and may have been able to sneak himself into the first round discussion if he’d been healthy all throughout the offseason.

The Broncos picked him at the top of the fifth round, but you can throw draft status out the window with this guy. He’s a special talent at the position who will be a major factor in 2018.