Arizona Cardinals newest receiver may be faster than we thought

Arizona Cardinals’ fourth-round selection Hakeem Butler says he’s run faster outside of the combine.

Running a 4.48-second 40-yard-dash at 6-foot-5 and 227-pounds is fast, and it’s borderline unfair. That’s what the newest Arizona Cardinals’ receiver Hakeem Butler did at the 2019 NFL Combine, but it may not have done him justice.

At the day-one rookie mini-camp press conference, Butler noted that he’s tested faster in front of other teams. How much faster? Well, Butler said it was fast enough to be within the top-five for receivers at this year’s combine. He said at the press-conference;

"One team clocked me at a 4.35."

If this is true, Butler shouldn’t have been a fourth-round pick or even a third-round pick. Having 4.35 speed is practically unheard for a 6-foot-5, 227-pound receiver that some say could switch to tight end seemingly. However, if true, the Cardinals have a speed threat in the inside and outside.

Couple Butler’s alleged 4.35-second speed with Andy Isabella’s 4.31-second speed and the Cardinals instantly have one of the fastest receiving corps in the NFL before factoring speedsters including Christian Kirk. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury likely had their testing numbers in mind when drafting both Butler and Isabella as the offense is built to pass vertically.

Kingsbury and Cardinals fans alike aren’t the only one celebrating a faster, younger, more talented receiving corps. Kyler Murray should be too. Unlike Josh Rosen last season, he won’t be playing with a team lacking promise across the board at skill positions (other than a select few).

Ultimately, that 4.35-second timing is unofficial. But, if true, the Cardinals found their X-receiver of the future with some serious speed to boot.