NFL Draft: Hakeem Butler will be a redzone monster
Iowa State football is far from an NFL Draft pipeline but wide receiver Hakeem Butler is one of the best pass catchers of his class.
Butler and fellow teammate David Montgomery are on a mission to prove the doubters wrong. Undervalued in part because they don’t hail from Alabama, Clemson, Georgia or Ohio State, these two Iowa State Cyclones are surging up draft boards — and for good reason.
It’s a strong receiver class and Butler is one of several options. After hauling in 60 catches for 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns in his final season, he’s proven he can play at a high level. Now all he needs is someone to give him a shot.
Strengths
Butler is 6-foot-6, 225 pounds and he’s not afraid of contact. Not only is he not someone any defender wants to willingly meet in the open field, but he’s also an aggressive blocker with a physicality which has him already prepared to play at the next level. Butler is a YAC (yards after catch) monster who explodes to the football and carries through to the end of the play.
More than just being a big, burly pass catcher, Butler excels as a technician. He’s a crisp route runner with a high football IQ. His breaks are clean and he can win at any point on the field, from shallow crossing routes in the slot to a deep post or go route on the outside.
His strong release combined with his size make him a redzone nightmare for opposing teams. Athletically, there’s not much more you could ask for in a wide receiver prospect.
Weaknesses
As physically gifted as he is, Butler didn’t wow at the NFL Combine to the degree many expected. Part of that is the juxtaposition of his somewhat average measures of workout warrior D.K. Metcalf who stole the show with his freakish results. His 4.48 40-yard dash was ho-hum and he did not run the other agility drills.
Quickness isn’t the forte of his game. He uses his hands to beat defenders at the line of scrimmage rather than his feet. It’s fair to question how effective he’ll be when lined up against NFL corners who play with significantly more physicality than the defenders he faced in the Big 12.
Although he runs routes well, he’ll have to expand his route tree significantly at the next level. Iowa State isn’t known for having the most intricate offensive schemes. An expanded repertoire in the way of scheme could provide a barrier to significant playing time early.
Next. NFL Draft: Projected first round after free agency. dark
Draft expectations
Butler isn’t the fastest, the strongest or the most decorated wide receiver in the 2020 draft class, but he’s a talented football player. This is the kind of guy you put on the outside and keep there for years. Someone is going to “settle” for Butler after the marquee pass catchers are off the board and pick up one of the most underrated players in the draft.