How Jake Butt capitalized on a rare redshirt year in the NFL

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Imagine for a second that instead of walking into your job and being expected to perform the tasks right away, you had an entire year to just observe. A whole trip around the sun to simply take notes, ask questions and get first-hand training from employees and managers.

When that year was up, you would pretty damn prepared to perform those tasks, right?

That’s the position Broncos tight end Jake Butt finds himself in heading into his second season in the NFL. After coming to Denver on a torn ACL he suffered during his final game in college, the Michigan product was basically given a rare redshirt season in the NFL.

“From a mental aspect, it was nice because I kind of got to see how the game is played,” Butt said on Saturday, after joining his new teammates at rookie minicamp. “I got to learn what it’s like to be a pro. I got to see how different this game is from college football.”

Mentally, Butt is light years ahead of the players he shared the field with on Saturday afternoon and physically, now at full strength, he has a head start, as well.

“I think this is probably the best I’ve felt in my career,” he shared. “Getting that whole year under my belt with professional strength coaches, really focusing on my rehab, mobility, strength, speed, all that good stuff. I’m pretty confident saying this is the best I’ve ever felt in my career.”

The tight end has put on eight pounds of muscle this offseason, and that is apparent at first glance. After looking like a big wide receiver last year, Butt now looks the look of his position. The added bulk figures to help him in his quest to be an every-down type tight end.

Mental advantage: Check.

Physical advantage: Check.

So what’s the downside of the quote-unquote redshirt year?

“I missed the game,” he admitted. “It hurts you a little bit when everyone’s out practicing, and I’m going to the weight room to lift. It hurts you when everyone is watching themselves on film, ‘How can I become a better football player,’ and I’m just kind of watching back from afar. I think the emotional aspect is really the hardest part but, in a sense, it’s just made me find a new appreciation for this game.”

Naturally, the second-year man jumped at the opportunity to practice with the rookies, noting, “You really don’t take these opportunities for granted,” after they’ve been taken away from you for a whole year.

Now it’s time for last year’s “intern” to take on a full-time role, and it may be an understatement to say he’s ready.

While being asked if he now carries himself like he should be the No. 1 tight end on the team, the 22-year-old didn’t even let the reporter finish the question.

“Of course,” he said, pouncing on the question like he’d been waiting for it for a whole year. “You have to have that confidence to play in this league.”

As his true rookie season slowly inches closer, it’s fair to say that Jake Butt is rear-end—I mean rarin’—to go.