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WR Hakeem Butler, Free Agent (1 Viewer)

1. Murray and Butler quickly developing chemistry

While I was interviewing Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Hakeem Butler, a funny thing happened. Kyler Murray came over and intentionally "ruined" his answer, interrupting Butler and giving him some good-natured, well, you know the word I'd use here if I could. Let's keep it family-friendly and say he gave him some "razzing." Butler wasn't fazed and gave it right back to the quarterback. It was a fun, light-hearted moment, but what struck me is how comfortable they seemed with each other.

I asked Butler about that interaction after Murray left and he just smiled and shrugged. "Well, we're roommates," as if to say, "Duh, Berry." He explained further that a lot of times they don't even talk ball, but just are getting to know each other and that, in a short period of time, they have grown close, a sentiment Kyler echoed to me in a later interview.

Butler relayed a moment that happened in practice when Murray threw a ball high. I later asked Murray about this moment, and here's the story, as I've pieced together from both sides. Murray told me he threw a ball and right away he knew he had thrown it too high, and was getting mad at himself when all of a sudden, Butler came down with it.

Butler told me Murray apologized to him that night for the "bad ball," but Butler shrugged him off. It's a play that not only can he make, he expects to make it. He told Murray he thought nothing was wrong on the ball ... he figured Murray was just putting it in a place to avoid the defender and let Butler "go up and make a play."

Murray told me later how excited he's been, as he's never had a WR the size of Butler (he's 6-foot-6, 225 pounds). From Butler's point of view, using his body, size and winning those 50-50 balls is an important aspect of his game, something he's been working on with Calvin Johnson.

Do you need me to pick up that name I just dropped? Butler has been working out with Megatron himself, learning how to use his big frame and speed in the most effective ways. Clearly, he has already caught Murray's attention.
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http://www.espn.com/fantasy/football/story/_/id/26800322/fantasy-football-nflpa-rookie-premiere-takeaways-too-low-kyler-murray

 
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com projects Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk and Andy Isabella as the team's top three wideouts.

So essentially Urban expects Isabella to start over fellow rookie Hakeem Butler. In fact, Urban made no mention of Butler, suggesting he could be as low as sixth on the team's receiving depth chart behind Kevin White and Damiere Byrd. Obviously nothing is set in stone, but from the looks of it, Butler has some serious ground to make up if he wants to make a year-one impact.

RELATED: 

Hakeem Butler

SOURCE: azcardinals.com

Jun 27, 2019, 2:36 PM ET
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Which Surprise Starter Could Emerge for Every NFL Team in 2019?

Excerpt:

Arizona Cardinals: WR Hakeem Butler


The Arizona Cardinals picked an opportune time to overhaul their wide receiver unit. Larry Fitzgerald heads into his 16th season, and Chad Williams, a 2017 third-rounder, hasn't shown much, logging 20 catches for 202 yards and a touchdown.

Last year, the Cardinals selected Christian Kirk in the second round. In April, the front office added Andy Isabella (second round), Hakeem Butler (fourth round) and KeeSean Johnson (sixth round).

Fitzgerald and Kirk should be locks to claim two of the top three wide receiver positions. Isabella and Butler will likely battle for the third spot. Arizona's Day 2 choice at wide receiver wouldn't look good taking a backseat to one of the Day 3 picks or oft-injured veteran Kevin White.

Yet Butler has a real shot to crack the starting lineup in three-wide receiver sets. At 6'5", 227 pounds, he's a big-time playmaker. According to Pro Football Focus, he led the 2018 class in yardage (721) on deep receptions of at least 20 yards. Isabella placed second in the category (705).

Butler has one issue that knocks him a down notch below Isabella—drops. He acknowledged his fault at the end of his redshirt junior term. "It's just focus," he told reporters. "I know what it is. I've just got to correct it."

Isabella's speed and consistency in securing his targets should give him the edge over Butler in their first season together, but the coaching staff may favor the latter for chunk plays downfield.
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I loved Hakeem predraft, but him lasting til pick 103 overall raises many questions. The earliest I’d consider him is 12th ish in rookie drafts

 
I don’t know what to do with the wideouts on Arizona. I had Fitz two years ago and the old man killed it. I have loved what I’ve seen from Kirk. And I am admittedly completely oblivious to this rookie class so only know what I’ve heard about Harry. I’ll be honest I def want a part of this offense I’m just not sure who. 

 
10 LATE-ROUND NFL ROOKIES WHO COULD SHINE IN 2019

Excerpt:

Hakeem Butler, wide receiver, Arizona Cardinals

It was truly stunning that Hakeem Butler fell all the way to the fourth round in April. A player many pegged as a second-round pick, at the worst, he has first-round abilities and was dominant at Iowa State. With a 6-foot-5, 227-pound frame, his after-the-catch game is Marshawn Lynch-esque.

Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald are locks to start for the Cardinals in 2019. Butler has a strong opportunity to be the third receiver, which would pretty much equate being a starter in Kliff Kingsbury’s spread offense. His ability to make big plays — both deep down the field and on short passes that he turns into long gains — should make him an immediate impact player as a rookie. 
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Elevencents said:
I don’t know what to do with the wideouts on Arizona. I had Fitz two years ago and the old man killed it. I have loved what I’ve seen from Kirk. And I am admittedly completely oblivious to this rookie class so only know what I’ve heard about Harry. I’ll be honest I def want a part of this offense I’m just not sure who. 
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I think Kirk will be the guy to own, and he’s not all that expensive right now.

 
TripItUp said:
Butler is the most dangerous and explosive WR on the roster.  
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I would probably give Kirk that title but Butler sure is interesting. I feel like he is probably the rawest and most difficult to place in the lineup early in the year out of the bunch. He may present the most upside but I think he will be a patient play. I hope he can flash enough early to get him involved in the offense the first half of the year and build off that. 

 
According to Scott Bordow of The Athletic, it's "clear" that Larry Fitzgerald, Christian Kirk and sixth-round rookie KeeSean Johnson are the Cardinals' top three receivers.

The Cardinals listed former first-round pick Kevin White as a starter on their initial depth chart but that listing was probably based on seniority. Johnson appears to be the obvious No. 3 in Arizona with fellow rookies Andy Isabella and Hakeem Butler both working behind him. Isabella has reportedly "dropped too many passes" at camp while Butler has also had issues with "holding onto the ball." Bordow named Fitzgerald, Kirk, Johnson, Isabella and Butler roster "locks," leaving White, Damiere Byrd, Pharoah Cooper and Trent Sherfield to fight it out for the Cardinals' final two wide receiver spots.

SOURCE: The Athletic

Aug 4, 2019, 9:57 AM ET
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Let's hope he does not go to IR.  that would really suck.  Or maybe it's short term IR and he can still get on the field at some point this season.  

 
rickyg said:
Let's hope he does not go to IR.  that would really suck.  Or maybe it's short term IR and he can still get on the field at some point this season.  
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It was pretty unlikely he was going to get on the field in the first place. I would say this end injury seals it. 

 
This sucks. I mean I was gonna taxi squad him anyway so year 1 was a total wash, but just a bummer more for his development. Hope he's able to only go short-term and be at least able to take the practice field later in the season.

 
Well, I guess I’ll snag him at the very end now and keep him for next year. Always a couple guys each year that this strategy works for (did it with Guice last year). 

 
Elevencents said:
Where did 3 come from? Lol. Got him in Round 11 last year. Which turned out to not be a huge savings seeing as where he is going this year. 
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You said at the end. I figured you were talking dynasty. most rookie drafts are 3 rounds. Lol

IMO Butler doesnt have much value as a keeper. probably get him for the same keeper price next year and use your keeper on someone else 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
rickyg said:
Let's hope he does not go to IR.  that would really suck.  Or maybe it's short term IR and he can still get on the field at some point this season.  
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If placed on Ir now before start of the season, I don’t think he’d be eligible for an in season return. 

 
matttyl said:
If placed on Ir now before start of the season, I don’t think he’d be eligible for an in season return. 
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Every team can bring back two players from IR a year. They don't have to designate who it is anymore either.

So its possible that Butler could be back. They have to weigh that decision against other players they have injured who could come back as well.

For dynasty owners of Butler I would just look to stash him on IR for this year and then re-evaluate him for next season. He wasn't really cracking the starting line up anyways.

Its a bummer. I still like Butler a lot. I hope he is better soon.

 
Dr. Dan said:
You said at the end. I figured you were talking dynasty. most rookie drafts are 3 rounds. Lol

IMO Butler doesnt have much value as a keeper. probably get him for the same keeper price next year and use your keeper on someone else 
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After posting I thought that’s what you were getting at 😉

We have a 5 player “practice squad”. Essentially any player you can put on this extra bench at the beginning of the year and if he never cracks the starting lineup you can draft him in the exact same round. That way, any guys that are injured early and blow up in the second half you can get at a discount the following year. We’ll see how the draft goes, because there are a lot of young guys I like this year and want to hold on to.

 
Biabreakable said:
Every team can bring back two players from IR a year. They don't have to designate who it is anymore either.

So its possible that Butler could be back. They have to weigh that decision against other players they have injured who could come back as well.

For dynasty owners of Butler I would just look to stash him on IR for this year and then re-evaluate him for next season. He wasn't really cracking the starting line up anyways.

Its a bummer. I still like Butler a lot. I hope he is better soon.
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That’s mostly true.  But in order to be eligible to return after being on the IR for 8+ weeks, the player MUST be on the active 53 man roster week 1.  That means if he’s out on the IR now, he’d be there all year.  If he’s on the active 53 week 1, he could come back later this season if then placed on IR.  

Source - https://www.cincyjungle.com/2018/8/31/17797904/explaining-pup-nfi-ir-other-injury-nfl-roster-designations-cuts-53-man-roster

 
az_prof said:
This is the kind of guy you drop now and do not draft at all in any format. 
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I think he was overvalued by many here (post NFL draft especially) but why would you drop him unless your league has very short benches and/or no IR slots? There's too much potential in the player and the offense to just let some one else have him for free.

 
Dr. Octopus said:
I think he was overvalued by many here (post NFL draft especially) but why would you drop him unless your league has very short benches and/or no IR slots? There's too much potential in the player and the offense to just let some one else have him for free.
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I was thinking redraft 

 
Cardinals placed WR Hakeem Butler on injured reserve, ending his rookie season.

Butler has a serious finger injury, and it makes Butler's early-career outlook bleak. The Cardinals weren't happy with his play throughout the offseason, and he'll likely be a few more steps behind Andy Isabella and KeeSean Johnson when he returns next offseason. Butler is merely a dynasty hold given Arizona's air raid offense, but it's hard to be overly optimistic right now.

SOURCE: AZCardinals.com

Aug 25, 2019, 4:10 PM ET
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Blake Allen Murf @blakemurphy7

Hate to say it with Hakeem Butler but with him going on IR he needs reps and to develop. He won’t get those now likely until next year.

Not that it’s a career-ender obviously but it’s a big time setback for the dude.
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So dynasty owners, how are you feeling about Butler in 2020? We didn't really get to see much (if anything) from him this summer, but you have to feel good about the system and the numbers Murray put up. Assuming Fitz retires at year's end is there a spot for him in our lineups next year? 

 
ffmail4me said:
So dynasty owners, how are you feeling about Butler in 2020? We didn't really get to see much (if anything) from him this summer, but you have to feel good about the system and the numbers Murray put up. Assuming Fitz retires at year's end is there a spot for him in our lineups next year? 
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I feel similar to how I did before he got hurt. I think Arizona got a steal in round 4. There’s opportunity there and I think he’s a great buy low

 
ffmail4me said:
So dynasty owners, how are you feeling about Butler in 2020? We didn't really get to see much (if anything) from him this summer, but you have to feel good about the system and the numbers Murray put up. Assuming Fitz retires at year's end is there a spot for him in our lineups next year? 
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I believe Isabella is in line for Fitz' slot work. I feel the same about Butler I did this preseason, which is unfavorably, but if hes going to get an opportunity to flourish, it's in this system 

 
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