I have tremendous doubt about the availability of Ladarius Green for the 2017 season in Pittsburgh. Whether that means they will look for a tight end in this draft or not I can’t say but Michigan’s Jake Butt is certainly an option.
Jake Butt, TE, Michigan
6’5″ 246 pounds
Key Combine Stats: DNP due to torn ACL
2016 Stats: 46 receptions, 546 yards, 4 TDs, 11.9 YPC
What’s to Like: Smart player… Finds holes in zones and creates space when quarterback is scrambling… Pretty good elusiveness for a man of his size… Doesn’t mind going over the middle and fights for every ball thrown his way… He’s a stick mover; has a nose for the first down line… Boxes out defenders really well when he sets up over the middle… Good, wide-base blocker when he’s stalking DBs…
What’s Concerning: Needs to add some strength/weight to his frame… Going to have improve blocking technique; tends to grab when defenders disengage… I don’t see him being a down-field threat… Will likely struggle shaking LBs and safeties in man-to-man coverage… Run blocking effort is there but he needs work technique-wise… Has he peaked already?