NFL Draft 2017: Top Prospects from Michigan

Tight end: Jake Butt

Lance Zierlein’s ranks Jake Butt as the #2 tight end in the country:

"Butt is a throwback tight end who combines size with outstanding toughness over the middle as a big, reliable target for the Wolverines. Butt might have the strongest hands in college football. He uses them to snatch throws away from his body and then secure the catch no matter how much traffic surrounds him. Butt plays to his size after the catch, breaking tackles and grinding out yardage. While 21 percent of his catches went for 20-plus yards, he’s not the athlete that Howard is and he might be a little less consistent as a run blocker as well."

Jon Ledyard of Inside the Pylon writes about Butt:

"It was a surprise when Butt shunned a weak tight end class to return to Michigan, but the Wolverine playmaker will garner plenty of attention this season as NFL scouts decide whether he deserves first round hype. Butt is a strong athlete with the ability to go up and battle for contested catches in the air, but his detailed routes are what truly set him apart. Where Butt leaves much to be desired is in his blocking, not from an effort standpoint, but from a technical perspective. I trust he’ll improve in this area, but scouts will be paying close attention to how Butt handles himself in the trenches this season."

Jim Harbaugh uses tight ends more than any other coach in college football and that will benefit Jake Butt immensely. Harbaugh will feature Butt in his offense and show NFL scouts how his skills will be valuable at the next level. If Butt can improve his blocking, as both Zierlein and Ledyard point out, he should be one of the finalists for the Mackey Award (best tight end in college football), and hear his name called in the top 100 picks of next years draft.

The offensive linemen are next up.

Next: Offensive Lineman