Hakeem Butler – WR, Iowa State
If Kliff Kingsbury wants to make the Arizona Cardinals’ offense go vertical, Hakeem Butler could be a perfect fit. He’s built to stretch the field and make big-time catches.
Butler has both the height (6-5) and the speed (4.45 second 40-yard-dash) to be both an effective field-stretcher and red zone target in the big leagues. The former Iowa State Cyclone is a headache to defend in contested catch situations due to that height, jump-ball ability (36-inch vertical), and good body control.
Butler’s ability to pluck the ball out of the air gives me flashes of Randy Moss, while his toe drag swag tendencies tend to receive DeAndre Hopkins vibes. He’s also improved his game after the catch as he uses his functional athleticism and length to deny defenders space. Against press coverage, he tends to use his length to his advantage but has an underrated ability to beat bigger more physical cornerbacks with developed footwork.
However, there are some apparent knocks to his game. His lack of quickness and fluidity in his breaks are evident, and it should result in him seeing a compacted route-tree that features mostly vertical routes. Per Pro Football Focus, his lower career catch rate of 57.6% and 17 drops are also concerning statistics.
But, despite his lower catch rate, don’t be surprised to see the Cardinals fall in love with his potential to dominate as a vertical receiver for years to come. He could also be a red zone cheat code, as his big frame and ‘go up and get it’ playstyle could prove to be an ideal target for Murray.
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