2019 Picks #103-105
From the 2019 NFL Draft Bible (click here to purchase)
#103 Cardinals - Hakeem Butler, WR, Iowa State
OUTLOOK: Butler is a super long receiver that poses a mismatch all over the field with his height and excellent hands. The Big-12 All-Conference receiver is first cousins with Aaron and Andrew Harrison (NBA/Euro League) and lived with the Harrison family in the Houston area for a period after losing his mother to cancer in 2012. A mature team leader, Butler is highly motivated and ultra competitive with a physical playing style, boxing defenders out with his wide body.
#104 Bengals - Ryan Finley, QB, North Carolina State
OUTLOOK: Finley has the ability to throw the football quickly, with accuracy and make good decisions. He can play using different pocket movements and throwing platforms. He transferred from Boise State in the summer of 2016 after earning his degree in three years. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility and earned two master’s degrees from North Carolina State. Finley showed nice touch at the Senior Bowl but needs to get rid of the ball quicker, he had trouble finding his rhythm throughout the week. Has some polish to his game but may have already peaked to his potential. A bit of an older prospect, he’ll turn 25 years old during his rookie season. Finley has enough size and arm strength to play at the next level but isn’t going to wow you in any one particular area. His draft grade varies around the league and his set of traits won’t be for everyone but Finley can be a positive addition in any quarterback room.
#105 Saints - Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, FS, Florida
OUTLOOK: NFL teams love playmakers and Gardner-Johnson certainly is that, offering a tantalizing combination of big play chops, experience against elite competition and positional versatility. Dan Mullen was lured away from SEC rival Mississippi State back to the University of Florida to turn around a muddling offense but it was stellar play on defense by prospects like the versatile Gardner-Johnson which resulted in the Gators? impressive 10-3 season and 41-15 demolishing of Michigan in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. While there is no doubt that Gardner-Johnson enjoyed his most consistent season in 2018 recording career-highs in tackles (71), solo stops (37), tackles for loss (nine), interceptions (four) and touchdowns scored (two) ? his success came as no surprise. Before officially adding a hyphen and Johnson to his last name prior to this season, the talented defensive back had already guaranteed that no Gators fans would forget him, joining Florida legend and future Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith as the only true freshmen in school history to be named MVP of a bowl game in 2016. In that game, Gardner-Johnson recorded two interceptions (returning one 58 yards for a score) in Florida’s 30-3 thumping of Iowa in the Outback Bowl. His questionable deep speed, however, makes Gardner-Johnson a bit of a feast or famine type, which could result in some polarizing grades. He did show improved consistency in 2018, creating the optimism that likely results in a top 100 selection.
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