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Denver Broncos: 2017 Draft Picks team wishes worked out

By Graham Tiedtke

Oct 14, 2018; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Chad Kelly (6) reacts to the crowd as he comes in for the final play of the the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 14, 2018; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Chad Kelly (6) reacts to the crowd as he comes in for the final play of the the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Denver Broncos, Jake Butt
Sep 9, 2018; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos tight end Jake Butt (80) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Broncos Stadium at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

As we continue the series of players we wish worked out for the Denver Broncos, we put our focus on the 2017 Draft Class. You can check out the 2016 version here.

Of all of the members of the Broncos draft class of 2017, just one player remains on the team: tackle Garett Bolles (who has greatly improved since his initial struggles as a first-round pick).

We’ll now focus on a player whose failed Broncos stint was not his fault.

Denver Broncos 2017 picks that didn’t work out

Tight end Jake Butt

Another player that was drafted by the team that year was Michigan tight end Jake Butt. Unfortunately, Butt just was unable to stay healthy during his time with the team. He played in a total of eight games in two years, racking up 10 passes for 90 yards off of 17 targets during that span.

Butt was a productive player for the Michigan Wolverines, and there, he was able to stay healthy for 43 career games. In that time, Butt accumulated 138 passes for 1,646 yards and 11 touchdowns, including his senior season in 2016, when he caught four touchdown passes.

Despite missing a bunch of games—including the entire 2019 season—Butt left via free agency to sign with the Chicago Bears, where he hopes to revive his once-promising career.

It is so easy to root for a guy like Jake Butt. After so many season-ending injuries that have kept him from making a difference in the NFL, Butt still continues to make his dream of playing in the NFL for an extended period of time come true. How could you not like his determination?

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