Hakeem Butler, Iowa State
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 227 pounds
40-yard dash: 4.48 seconds
Vertical Jump: 36.0 inches
Broad Jump: 128 inches
3-Cone Drill: N/A
What has the world come to when we have 6-foot-5 receivers running 4.4-second 40-yard dashes? Butler is part of the “big wide receivers” in this draft class and although he didn’t run a 4.33 like D.K. Metcalf did, Butler measured in with massive 10 3/4-inch hands and 83 7/8-inch wingspan. His hands were the second biggest measured among wide receivers, while his wingspan was a full inch longer than the closest one (Metcalf). He’s certainly a physical specimen who demands your attention.
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A knock on Butler is that he’s got just one year of elite production, though I’ve warned readers before that college stats can be misleading at times. The fact that he posted 1,318 yards – which ranked eighth in the nation – and scored nine touchdowns highlights he has the ability to dominate college competition. The best part was that he did it over a variety of games and didn’t just accumulate his yardage in a couple games. Was it the competition or can he be a true alpha wide receiver in the NFL?
Size/Versatility: 4.5 out of 5 stars
While at Iowa State they had him play both on the perimeter and in the slot, so he’s a movable piece immediately once he enters the NFL, which is important if he wants to be the go-to option in the offense. He also provides a massive target for a quarterback. His 83 7/8-inch wingspan is nearly two inches bigger than Calvin Johnson’s, which goes to show just how big of an area Butler takes up. Remember the Sport Science thing that said Calvin Johnson’s catch radius was the size of a two-car garage? Yeah, well Butler’s right there as well. There’s not a team in the NFL who couldn’t find a way to use him in their offense, so yeah, you can say he’s versatile. If there’s one knock against his size, it’s that he’s a bit thin, which can sometimes lead to injuries with big wide receivers.
Route Running/Ability to Separate: 3.0 out of 5 stars
He’s a long strider, so he’s not going to have super sharp cuts in his routes, but he doesn’t have to considering how fast he can eat up yardage. Still, he needs to get better through his cuts that break in or out. He does have the ability to stop very quickly while maintaining complete control of his body. He struggles a bit with press coverage, though it’s worth noting he worked with Calvin Johnson prior to the NFL Combine on this exact thing. He also doesn’t run the full route tree and will need some tutelage upon entering the league. The fact that he already met with Johnson tells me he’s going to put in the work necessary to get to the next level. A.J. Green saw his game improve dramatically after working out with Johnson during the offseason early in his career. Butler’s technique at the point of the catch is phenomenal, and while this wouldn’t usually go in the route-running section, it does go into his ability to separate. He uses his body and hands very subtly to gain separation as the ball comes in. There are some receivers who do it blatantly, but Butler masks it very well.
Speed: 3.0 out of 5 stars
He doesn’t have on-demand speed off the line like D.K. Metcalf, but make no mistake about it, he’s going to stretch the field in the NFL. His speed is more ramped up and he can get behind a defense if a defender doesn’t respect his speed. He doesn’t vary his speed in his routes very well right now, either, which is something he needs to get better at.
Hands: 3.5 out of 5 stars
There are times where you watch Butler thinking he has some of the best hands you’ve ever seen, but at others, you’ll see some ugly drops. This isn’t the biggest concern due to the fact that he flashes elite ability when times are tough and he’s under duress. Maybe it’s that he takes the easier ones for granted, but he’ll need to clean that up if he wants to be the No. 1 in an offense. He almost never lets the ball come into his body, as he’s a natural hands catcher, which anyone knows who’s watched him pluck the ball out of the air on a 50-yard bomb. The focus drops need to stop in order for him to gain his quarterback’s confidence, but the correct fundamentals are there.
Awareness: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Adjusts to the ball in the air extremely well, like it’s something he’s continuously practiced more than anything else. His ability to high-point a ball is elite, as he times his jumps with such precision that you wonder if the defender ever had a chance. His 50/50 balls are likely more in the 70/30 range. He attacks the ball on comeback routes, something that speaks volumes to his awareness and ability to help his quarterback. He’s aware of where he’s at on the field, as you’ll see him tightrope the sideline and stay in bounds if it was possible. His awareness is elite.
After the Catch: 3.0 out of 5 stars
He’s not a very strong wide receiver and he’s not very thick, so it’s difficult for him to evade tacklers with strength, especially when you consider how big he is as a tackling target. He’s not someone who’ll be brought down to the ground with ease, though. He’ll twist, turn, and spin in order to lose defenders, and while it worked in college, it’s going to get much tougher at the next level. I know some believe he’s a tackle-breaking machine, but a lot of the film I saw featured some bad tackling. The bottom line is that I don’t believe he’s elite after the catch, but he’s certainly not bad, either.
Potential Landing Spot
There are plenty teams out there who can use a wide receiver like Butler, but the one that makes the most sense is the Cardinals. They need to add perimeter options to the offense, as Larry Fitzgerald is going to retire at some point and Christian Kirk is at his best when he’s in the slot. Providing Josh Rosen (or Kyler Murray) with a 50/50 receiver for when he’s under duress – which happens a lot behind that offensive line – would be very helpful. There’s another receiver they could be looking at (profile coming soon) who they may like better, but Butler is the better receiver. I’d also add the Jaguars to the list of potential landing spots for Butler, as they have a bunch of speed on the field right now but they could use a jump ball receiver for Nick Foles.
NFL Comparison
Maybe it’s the No. 18 he wore, but when I watch Butler, I can’t help but think of A.J. Green. A long, lanky receiver who’s developed into one of the best wide receivers in the game. Butler isn’t anywhere close to Green with his route-running right now, but he has even more length, is better in 50/50 situations, and can track the ball nearly as well. If you were to put Butler in a Bengals No. 18 jersey, many wouldn’t stop and think twice from their appearance. Keep in mind that this is a high-end comparison, as most know who Green is and what his playstyle is like. There’ve been a lot of big wide receivers who move like Butler who have failed, but knowing he’s already working with one of the best to ever play the game, he’s taken a step in the right direction.
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Mike Tagliere is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeTagliereNFL.
