Excitement for Broncos tight end Jake Butt continues to rise heading into minicamp

Good morning, Broncos Country!

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As the Denver Broncos head to minicamp, two factors stand out in the final week of organized team activities.

No, it has nothing to do with the quarterbacks.

The first was Garett Bolles telling the media he’s added more muscle to fight bull rushes. The Broncos left tackle wants his weight to be between 300-305, but no more than 308. The other aspect that should help Bolles in his second season is playing next to Ronald Leary, as long he can get and stay on the field.

The other is tight end Jake Butt. As Adam Malnati and I said on the latest MHR Radio Podcast, Butt adds another element to Denver’s offense and gives quarterback Case Keenum another weapon to attack defenses. When you look at the success Keenum had with the Minnesota Vikings last season, Kyle Rudolph was a huge part of that.

If the Broncos can get anything close to that with Butt this season, it makes the offense that much tougher to stop, and increases the odds of success.

“You’re out here playing football, but your main goal right now is to work your craft,” Butt told the media earlier this week. “Work the little details of the game. Work your feet in the run game. Feed the top of the routes, pass game. It’s just the little details that you’re trying to work on. You’re not trying to go full speed out here. You want to make sure no one gets hurt, but you’re trying to get better, you’re trying to maximize your time that you do get on the field.”

While it’s exciting to think about what Butt can do now that he’s healthy, and he said he’s 100 percent, it’s crucial to temper expectations. For all intents and purposes, this is rookie year and he still has a lot to learn. As is the case with every rookie, what’s pivotal is how Butt responds to the inevitable hiccups he encounters.

“He’s working hard and he wants to be a great player,” Broncos coach Vance Joseph said. “We haven’t played a game yet, so I don’t know what Jake is going to be, but he’s very engaged, he’s worked hard and he’s here every day. That’s all I can tell you about that.”

What adds to the excitement is the attitude and work ethic that Butt possesses, especially having already faced adversity by missing all of what would have been his rookie season because of injury. Despite that unfortunate break, Butt is more driven to get better and make an impact. It’s no guarantee to success, but it’s a great harbinger. As the Broncos head into minicamp, his continued development remains intriguing.

“It’s football ... but you’re a professional now,” he said. “You look around the locker room, and we have a lot of guys who are pros. A lot of great examples that I can learn off of, feed off of and carry that into this offseason.”

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