2022 NFL DRAFT PROSPECT REPORT
- Name: Matthew Butler
- Position: Interior Defensive Line
- School: Tennessee
- Height: 6'4"
- Weight: 299lbs
Film Watched: Missouri 2021, South Alabama 2021, Kentucky 2021, Pitt 2021
Pro's:
- Excellent burst. Fires off the line of scrimmage and able to challenge gaps before blockers are set
- Impressive lateral movement; can beat blockers to landmarks and hunt down from the backside
- Has edge rusher moves on the interior, and the guile to get into the backfield
- ALWAYS in or around the play. 100% effort with good anticipation of ball location
- Hands are his biggest asset; strong first punch, and never stop working throughout the play
- Surprising amount of anchor for a slender lower half; can stack and shed in the run game
- Low pad level gives him the leverage needed to compete with and manipulate bigger bodies
- Big game and big play kinda guy – brings it when the team needs it most
Matthew Butler is a DT prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored an unofficial 7.01 RAS at the Combine out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 397 out of 1325 DT from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/2hZ1w4HcVN #RAS via @Mathbomb pic.twitter.com/QNZLSLIdZk
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 6, 2022
Con's:
- More weight on his frame would be desirable for life on the interior
- Lower body strength will be challenged at the next level
- Lack of length. Has to use every trick in the book to keep blockers off his pads
- Two gapping responsibility might be beyond his physical capabilities
The Verdict:
“Talk about explosive; Matthew Butler plays like he’s been fired out of a cannon. Destination? An NFL backfield near you. Butler plays with so much energy he’s hard to contain for sixty minutes. Blockers struggle to latch on to him as he keeps his surface area to a premium and has his own hands working overtime to manipulate his way to an edge and through a gap. 2021 saw him return to Knoxville for his fifth year, and his stats exploded, recording 8.5 sacks from the defensive interior. An ascending prospect, Butler might still have room for growth if he can add a little more weight to his frame, allowing him to remain competitive in the run game as he takes the step up. Ideally suited to a 3-tech role in a 4-3 but by no means scheme dependent, Matthew Butler is a day two pick with considerable upside.”
Simon Carroll
Head Of NFL Draft Content
NFL COMPARISON: MIKE DANIELS
PREDICTION: 3RD ROUND PICK
5/5