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Detroit Lions Draft 2017: A Tight End for Every Round

By Ash Thompson

Dec 18, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron (85) is tackled by New York Giants free safety Andrew Adams (33) during first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Eric Ebron (85) is tackled by New York Giants free safety Andrew Adams (33) during first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 10, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines tight end Jake Butt (88) is tackled just short of the end zone by Northwestern Wildcats cornerback Matthew Harris (27) in the first quarter at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines tight end Jake Butt (88) is tackled just short of the end zone by Northwestern Wildcats cornerback Matthew Harris (27) in the first quarter at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Jake Butt, Michigan

Butt would likely appear in the second round if it were not for his ACL tear in the Orange Bowl loss to Florida State. He was the Big Ten Conference Tight End of the Year in both his junior and senior seasons.

Butt was a major contributor in the first few seasons in the renaissance of the Michigan football program. The inability to participate in the off-season program will hurt Butt’s production as a rookie. His selection would have more benefit in the long term than the short term.

At 6’5″ and 246 lbs, Butt has an NFL frame, but will need to put on some weight to move in to the “Y” tight end role at the highest level. He has shown a natural ability to find holes in zone coverage, and a sneaky ability to hand fight with linebackers looking to disrupt his routes.

Butt is a player that would make a perfect complement to more dynamic players on the Lions roster. Eric Ebron, Marvin Jones, Golden Tate, and Theo Riddick would leave him a lot of room to work. He isn’t the type of athlete that scares teams, but he is the kind of player that will make teams pay for focusing their defensive efforts elsewhere.

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