Lions select TE from Toledo with Jake Butt still on board

Submitted by NashvilleBLUE on
Most grading sites I read don't even have Roberts in the top 10 tight ends and say he's a pure blocking TE. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills. Does any injury really kill draft stock THAT much?

Kamtheram

April 29th, 2017 at 1:43 PM ^

Short sighted to pass on Butt imo. He will be a perennial all pro When is he scheduled to be able to play? Mid season I would guess And the Bengals win again..Glasgow

victors2000

April 29th, 2017 at 2:28 PM ^

if Jake comes back I think both will have solid careers in the NFL. If he can come back from that; Quinn probably doesn't want to take that chance. He liked what he saw in Roberts and went with him. Heck, after the pick I liked what I saw in him; a big guy who can block and has good hands and does some great " 'rumblin' stumblin' ". Also, folks need to get away from "The Lions are in Michigan, so they should favor Michigan players" That's just not true. I was one of the guys who was fuming after the Pistons passed on Trey for Caldwell-Pope and now that some time has gone by it turns out Joe D picked the right guy.

Gentleman Squirrels

April 29th, 2017 at 1:45 PM ^

Lions need a TE that can block more than a receiving one. I think whoever is getting Butt will get a massive steal. But it's not crazy for Lions to not take him. The nice thing is that Butt has an insurance policy on his draft stock and he's getting 300,000 out of that right now. Also, the fact that he is being drafted so low means that Butt has time to recover from his injury and ease his way into playing time.

Sledgehammer

April 29th, 2017 at 2:35 PM ^

Thank you! Everyone is so butthurt because Butt played for Michigan. If he hadn't, nobody would be upset about not taking a flex TE, when the Lions already have Ebron, who has had two serious injuries. 

The Lions need a blocking TE. Roberts is exactly that. They might have been able to hold off a round for him, but he is still fills a position of need.

llandson

April 29th, 2017 at 1:49 PM ^

Sadly, more and more top players will (and should) sit out bowl games when they take note of what is happening to Butt here. Their careers are at stake. 

blueblueblue

April 29th, 2017 at 2:01 PM ^

I agree. At that point its a professional, business decision. Which most NFL teams will respect. On the whole, guys who are mature and business-oriented will behave better and take a more professional approach to developing their game. I think bowl games are going to become more and more bereft of draft-ready talent. 

jabberwock

April 29th, 2017 at 2:22 PM ^

but i wonder where that line is going to be drawn now?

Do you sit for just meaningless bowl games?

Do you sit for playoffs?

If Michigan went 6-6 & were somehow to miss a bowl, how would you feel about Peppers or Butt skipping the OSU game?

I'm not hating on the players doing what's best for thier health and financial futures, but I still think if you agree to suit up and play for a team thats exactly what you should do.

blueblueblue

April 29th, 2017 at 3:28 PM ^

Yeah, I see your point, and its tough to argue with. Yet I also think it's tough to argue with guys sitting out as being the best option for them and their families. Which means that the issue is complex - both approaches seem right to me. I guess my take from now on will be that it is a personal decision, one deserving of respect, no matter which route the player takes. 

bronxblue

April 29th, 2017 at 3:10 PM ^

Because they took a decent prospect in the third round over a guy still recovering from a massive injury? The Lions screw up a lot of things, but this is super low on that list.

LSAClassOf2000

April 29th, 2017 at 3:28 PM ^

Just because they didn't take Jake Butt? It's a little more dynamic than that, in the case of the Detroit Lions. Actually, I don't know that I would have been all that pleased as a Lions fan if they had only because the Lions need a TE who is a proficient blocker, whereas I contend Butt is more of a receiving TE - and an excellent one at that. 

 

Doclosh

April 29th, 2017 at 1:53 PM ^

Jake may be ready to practice by mid-season, but it is overly-optimistic if he would be contribute as a pro in 2017.  Somebody will take him if they can wait a year to produce.  The Lions obviously need someone who can contribute from day one.

HarBooYa

April 29th, 2017 at 1:54 PM ^

Peppers, Lewis, Wormy and Butt. They got two Florida players our team two years ago destroyed.

One of those guys would have been nice. Just one. Friggin Lions.



SalvatoreQuattro

April 29th, 2017 at 2:01 PM ^

Not a big difference in evaluation from NFL.com Butt has had two serious injuries. That is a very legitimate concern. If the Lions took a guy with two serious injuries over another guy who was completely healthy and who also was considered a good prospect people would throw a fit. But because the injured guy is Jake Butt people ignore that. Fans.

mickblue

April 29th, 2017 at 2:04 PM ^

Could piss me off again, but they just did, with this pick.

Someone is going to get a steal with Jake and I hope

he comes back to bite the Lions in the ass.

Wolverine 73

April 29th, 2017 at 2:10 PM ^

Is a high character guy, someone who will work hard to get himself back to playing football. He isn't that fast and doesn't block very well. But he can play in the NFL, and someone is going to get a very fine person and pretty decent pass catching TE. Oops. Just went to Denver!