In the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft the Denver Broncos selected a player from a Big Ten school with a significant history of knee injuries, Michigan tight end Jake Butt. Two years prior, Denver grabbed another Big Ten player with a major knee injury, Trevor Siemian.
Siemian, who attended Northwestern, took to Twitter after the Broncos selected Butt, assuring his new teammate that his injury situation doesn’t mean a thing.
Those Big Ten guys that come in with jacked up knees usually end up doing alright. Pumped for @JBooty_88.
— Trevor Siemian (@TrevorSiemian) April 29, 2017
As Broncos fans know, Siemian ascended the depth chart in the 2016 offseason to beat out veteran Mark Sanchez and first-round draft pick Paxton Lynch to claim the starting job.
He guided the Broncos to an 8-6 record in his 14 starts. Siemian passed for 3,401 yards and 18 touchdowns in his first season as a starter. He spent the 2015 season learning behind Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler.
Siemian was selected 250th overall in the seventh round in 2015, proving an injury history and draft position means little to making it as a starter in the NFL.
The Broncos’ quarterback has every right to be pumped for Butt. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end is regarded as one of the top players at his position. Over four years at Michigan he compiled 138 receptions and 11 touchdowns, winning the John Mackey award in 2016.
He’s sure to be a great weapon for Siemian.
