Jake Butt Injury Update: Michigan TE tears ACL, NFL Draft stock plummets

Michigan Wolverines tight end Jake Butt’s NFL Draft stock took a big hit after the Orange Bowl as he suffered a torn ACL in the game

When it comes to the NFL Draft, the notion of a sure-thing is a rarity. Even the best prospects with all of the physical tools in the world have the potential to bust as they transition to the pro game. However, if there was any prospect that you had to view as a sure-thing in the 2017 NFL Draft, it was Jake Butt. The Michigan tight end may not have been the top-rated player at his position for some, but he seemed like a shoe-in to be an offensive threat in the NFL.

Unfortunately, that will now be called into question. What’s more, his NFL Draft stock is now likely to take a major, major hit following the 2016 Orange Bowl loss for Michigan.

In the first half of the loss to the Florida State Seminoles, Butt took a hit low to his knee and was left down on the turf before ultimately walking off and leaving the game. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said after the game that it was an ACL or MCL injury. We now know that it was—and that it’s the worst. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Butt suffered a torn ACL in the Orange Bowl and will require surgery:

That’s such a huge blow for Butt moving forward—though obviously not for Michigan as this was the tight end’s last game. However, the big fella had established himself as a reliable pass-catcher and a solid blocker. Thus, his NFL prospects were through the roof.

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Now Jake Butt is going to have to miss the combine and possibly even the beginning of his rookie season. For a player who could’ve been an early-round pick last year, but decided to return, that’s huge. If he can recover and if he falls in the draft, though, some team is going to get a steal whenever he’s ready to get back on the field.