Detroit Lions Draft 2017: Players Who May Fall to the Lions Third Round Pick
By Ash Thompson
Jake Butt, TE, Michigan
The state of Michigan knows why this would be a steal. Going in to the year Butt was the second best senior tight end in the 2017 draft class. He has fallen below many players at his position in a deep draft class due to a torn ACL. That is an injury that almost never affects a player long term anymore, but it is a factor in where a player gets drafted. NFL teams tend to be risk averse, but the Lions are in a position to work Butt back in gradially. Eric Ebron starts at the TE position. Darren Fells signed a one year contract as a stop gap second stringer. There is no need for Butt to rush back in as a Lion.
Butt has Red zone threat height at 6’5″ and decent weight for a college tight end at 246 lbs. His hands are not just good, they are great. Butt gains separation in his routs with precision more than explosive athleticism, but understands where to put himself in zone coverage. He also has some impressive ability after the catch, but he will be breaking sternums more than ankles.
Butt’s downside is the injury, the only reason he might be available. he wasn’t going to run a 4.3 at the combine, and recovery from a serious injury will likely limit his immediate impact. He doesn’t have an extra gear that he has been relying on for success though, so he shouldn’t have contributing toward the end of the season. He will also need ot improve as a blocker at the NFL level. Butt was a stalemate blocker in college and would need to improve if he were the Lions draft pick.
The team that is patient with Jake Butt is getting one heck of a football player. Most years he would be solidly in the second round even with his injury. He may be gone when the Lions pick in the third, but you never know. This tight end class has a lot of players who will be able to offer clean medicals and similar or better athletic profiles. The Lions may just get a deal in the third.