Broncos news: Jake Butt reportedly is back to full health.
There hasn’t been a whole lot of Denver Broncos news lately with teams and players in limbo due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but good Broncos news is always welcome.
The latest bit of good Broncos news involves tight end Jake Butt.
Butt, a fifth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, was taken one selection before Iowa’s George Kittle but at the time, really no one questioned it.
The Broncos were taking a shot on a player who had first- or second-round traits in Butt, a former All-American at Michigan whose decision to play in his final collegiate game ended up being one of the biggest turning points of his football career.
Butt’s draft status was guaranteed, but he played in Michigan’s bowl game against Florida State and wound up tearing his ACL. That’s why the Broncos were able to get him in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Butt has played three games in the NFL and has shown how impactful he can be as a receiver, but his inability to stay healthy is a major concern.
Still, he’s on the roster. The Broncos haven’t given up on him. He said in a phone conversation with Ryan O’Halloran of the Denver Post that he is back to full health and ready for the opportunity to compete.
"“I don’t know a lot of people that have been through my situation and the team would still be hanging there with them in year four. It really speaks a lot for the organization and what they think of me and I’m very appreciative. It’s not a guarantee — they’re not telling me I’m making the team by any stretch or rolling out the red carpet. I still have to go out there and work and earn it. But the fact they’re standing by me and giving me an opportunity, it obviously means the world to me and I’m going to try and go out there and prove them right and prove myself right.”"
Butt must stand out in a crowd
The Broncos have a really crowded tight end room. The thought of the entire group of players they have at the position being fully healthy for offseason activities is a really fun one.
Right now, the Broncos’ tight end group looks like this:
- Noah Fant
- Jeff Heuerman
- Nick Vannett
- Albert Okwuegbunam
- Troy Fumagalli
- Andrew Beck
- Jake Butt
- Austin Fort
If all of those guys are healthy, it’s going to be really tough having to cut one or more. Those guys are all good players when they are out on the field contributing, but there’s no question the Broncos are keeping Fant around.
Behind Fant, there’s open competition, and rightly so.
Albert Okwuegbunam stands a really good chance of making the roster as a fourth-round pick in 2020, but who else is making it?
I looked closer at that in a post earlier this month.
If Butt is healthy, he would be a tremendous asset to the offense. He can obviously make an impact as a receiver, but this was a player known for his all-around abilities coming out of Michigan.
The Broncos have stuck with Butt through three injury-riddled seasons, and if he’s healthy going into year four, he’s a fascinating wild card to keep an eye on.