Butler (6-5, 227) caught 60 passes for a school-record 1,318 yards with nine touchdowns as a junior in 2018. That followed a 41-catch, 697-yard, and seven-touchdown 2017 campaign with the Cyclones.
The 49ers aren't expected to use the No. 2 overall pick to bolster their wide receiver group but could start looking at the position after that. San Francisco currently also owns the No. 36 overall selection.
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At the NFL Scouting Combine, the 6-foot-5 and 227-pound Butler had a 40-time of 4.48 seconds, a vertical jump of 36 inches, a broad jump of 128 inches, and 18 reps in the bench press. Other measurables for Butler include an arm length of 35 1/4 inches and hands that measure 10 3/4 inches.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, who compares Butler to Danario Alexander, wrote the following about Butler within his scouting report:
"Big long-strider with exceptional length and good build-up speed to challenge cover corners and safeties down the field. Butler's unique play strength after the catch allows him to win contested deep balls and then plow through tackle attempts to create chunk plays and long touchdowns. His routes are basic and clunky and will limit how teams can use him. A greater concern will be those inconsistent hands that could turn quarterbacks against him unless he improves them. He's a work in progress, but the traits and potential are worth taking a shot."
Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst wrote the following about Butler within his scouting report:
"On many occasions, Butler has displayed himself to be a game-controlling receiver who dominates opponents. He uses his size as an advantage, displays soft hands and makes catches all over the field. Butler was much faster than anyone thought at the combine and will be a terrific receiver at the next level if he pulls the pieces together and consistently plays a high level."
Kyle Crabbs of The Draft Network wrote the following about Butler within his scouting report:
"Hakeem Butler offers a promising skill set in a vertical offense. Butler has phenomenal flashes in contested situations and as a vertical receiver, but needs to add further polish to his releases against press to consistently stack defenders in the NFL. Butler lacks quickness at the top of hard angled breaks but has the size to further develop himself and create separation for himself. Look for Butler to develop through his first 3 seasons and eventually be a starting X-receiver."
Measurables
Height: 6-5
Weight: 227 lbs.
Arm length: 35 1/4 inches
Hand length: 10 3/4 inches
NFL Scouting Combine
40-time: 4.48 seconds
Vertical: 36 inches
Broad jump: 128 inches
Bench press: 18 reps
| College Statistics | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Class | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | ||||||||
| 2015 | Iowa State | FR | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||
| 2016 | Iowa State | FR | 8 | 9 | 134 | 14.9 | 2 | ||||||||
| 2017 | Iowa State | SO | 13 | 41 | 697 | 17.0 | 7 | ||||||||
| 2018 | Iowa State | JR | 13 | 60 | 1318 | 22.0 | 9 | ||||||||
| Total | Iowa State | 110 | 2149 | 19.5 | 18 | ||||||||||
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