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One prospect who could interest the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft is former Louisiana Tech defensive lineman Vernon Butler. He is a 6'4", 323lb defensive lineman who is considered one of the top defensive lineman in the entire draft. Butler is ranked as the 35th overall prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft according to CBS Sports, and is ranked as the 6th best defensive tackle in the draft.
During Butler's four-year career at Louisana Tech, he totaled 168 tackles, 28.5 tackles for a loss, 3 pass deflections, and 1 forced fumble. This past season he totaled 50 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 3 sacks, and 3 pass deflections. The conference USA coaches voted Butler to the first-team All-Conference USA team for his 2015 season.
Vernon Butler
Defensive Lineman, Senior, Louisana Tech
Height: 6'4" Weight: 323lbs 40 time: 5.33 seconds
Arm Length: 35 1/8" Hands: 10 3/4"
Bench Press: 26 reps Vertical Jump: 33 1/2"
Broad Jump: 104.0 inches 3 Cone Drill: 7.82 seconds
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.76 seconds
Film Room
Scouting Report
Strengths:
- Big guy but carries his weight well for a man of his size
- Has great short area quickness
- Long arms and is a "knee bender"
- Strong hands
- Can take on double teams allowing linebackers to make plays
- High motor and doesn't quit
- Can stuff the run and rush the passer
- Great pursuit skills
- Great tackler
- Smooth on his feet
- Great athleticism for a man of his size
- Pad level gets too high sometimes
- Needs to develop a few more pass rush skills
- Allows blockers to get to his body
Does Vernon Butler fit with the Broncos?
Perfect fit, and a personal favorite of mine.
He has long arms, very athletic, can rush the pass, and stuff the run? Plug him in day one and the Broncos have their replacement for Malik Jackson. Add in the fact that he is a high-motor guy who never quits and I'm sold.
This seems like the type of prospect I can see defensive line coach Bill Kollar banging the table for in the first round. Kollar is one of the better and more respected defensive line coaches in the game(and he wrestled a bear...) and has helped turn J.J. Watt, Malik Jackson, and Derek Wolfe into the players they are today.
This draft is incredibly deep at the interior defensive line position and I see the Broncos adding another defensive prospect in the first round. If that guy is Vernon Butler, I will be one happy man that Thursday night.