3. Jake Butt, TE
If you’re sleeping on fourth-year tight end Jake Butt, it might be time to wake up.
Butt has been having a quietly very good offseason now that there’s very little expectation about his potential involvement in the offense.
Many had written Butt off with the progression of Noah Fant and the additions of players like Nick Vannett and Albert Okwuegbunam, but Butt is not to be written off, at least not at this point.
Little birdie told me this week to keep an eye on the return of Jake Butt in a crowded young TE room.
— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) August 14, 2020
Just made a nice catch.
Jake Butt looks really crisp out here running routes. #Broncos @KOAColorado
— Ryan Edwards (@redwardsradio) August 14, 2020
These two notes are crucial. Why?
Allbright’s note about what ‘a little birdie’ told him means that someone within the team still wants Butt to be on it. The Broncos currently appear to have five or six tight ends worth keeping on the roster if you count Andrew Beck among them, but Beck also doubles as a fullback.
Edwards’ note about Butt is important because if Butt is running crisp routes, it means he’s having no problems cutting on his surgically repaired knees.
Butt will not only have to prove himself worthy of a roster spot, but he’s going to have to stand out above guys like Vannett, Troy Fumagalli, and even players like Okwuegbunam and Beck, who shouldn’t be in danger of losing spots.
With Beck on the COVID list right now and Austin Fort out with an unfortunate knee injury, the way is being paved for Jake Butt’s comeback story.