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2017 NFL Draft: Biggest winners and losers of Bowl Season

By Tyler Brooke

Sep 24, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Budda Baker (32) celebrates after a Arizona Wildcats fumble during the fourth quarter at Arizona Stadium. Washington won 35-28 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Tucson, AZ, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Budda Baker (32) celebrates after a Arizona Wildcats fumble during the fourth quarter at Arizona Stadium. Washington won 35-28 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Trey Marshall (20) and linebacker Matthew Thomas (6) tackle Michigan Wolverines tight end Jake Butt (88) in the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles defensive back Trey Marshall (20) and linebacker Matthew Thomas (6) tackle Michigan Wolverines tight end Jake Butt (88) in the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports /

Loser: Jake Butt, TE, Michigan

No one wants to see a player go down with a serious injury, regardless of what team they plan on. That’s what makes Michigan Wolverines tight end Jake Butt’s injury during the Orange Bowl so heartbreaking.

In the second quarter of Friday’s Orange Bowl game against Florida State, Butt went down with what looked like a serious injury. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it was as bad as people feared, as Butt has reportedly torn his ACL.

This is a huge blow to Butt, who will likely not be ready for the start of the 2017 NFL regular season. That’s going to hurt his draft stock in a big way, especially in a tight end class that’s one of the best in some time. Butt was my No. 2-ranked tight end in the 2017 class, but now guys like Bucky Hodges and David Njoku will likely move ahead of him for most teams.

I’m not saying that Butt should have skipped the bowl game, especially since it was a game as big as the Orange Bowl. However, injuries like this are why I can’t blame guys like Leonard Fournette or Christian McCaffrey for skipping theirs. Hopefully Butt can make a full recovery and become an impact player at the next level.

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