Cardinals get Kyler another weapon in Butler at start of Day 3
The Arizona Cardinals selected wide receiver Hakeem Butler with the first pick of the fourth round in the 2019 NFL Draft, 103rd overall.
The Iowa State speedster joins Andy Isabella as another new weapon for No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray. Butler is a conventional "X" receiver, which should compliment Isabella's speed and Larry Fitzgerald's skills in the slot.
In a class with little consensus at wide receiver, some considered the 227-pounder to be a top-three talent among wideouts.
Butler was expected to hear his name called before the end of Day 3, so Arizona snapping him up at the start of the fourth round is arguably one of the more valuable picks of the draft so far.
He recorded just one year of college production, but produced 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns, and was routinely unstoppable on deep throws.
Prospect profile
School: Iowa State
Height: 6-5
Weight: 227 lbs
Strengths
- Big-play machine who can line up anywhere
- Size, physicality, and high-point ability make winning over a defender look easy
- Tracks ball well and has the body control to make impressive adjustments
- Advanced route-runner with a feel for nuance and positioning to create separation
- Massive catch radius
- Has long speed to stretch defenses vertically
- Physicality shows up with bully-running mentality after catch
- Active and physical blocker in running game
Weaknesses
- Focus drops present an issue that needs to be corrected at next level
- Not especially quick in and out of his breaks
Bottom line
Butler does it all. Drops are the only major knock on his game, but they're more a result of focus than an indicator of ability. And drops really aren't all that concerning considering the kinds of plays he makes on a regular basis. Butler is a size-speed freak who dominates at all levels of the field, and his physicality shows up in all phases of the offensive game. He's everything teams should be looking for in a No. 1 receiver.