Broncos make intriguing free agent addition and give former top prospect another opportunity to revive his NFL career
Denver signed former fourth-round pick Hakeem Butler, who’s been the UFL offensive player of the year in two of the past three seasons.
The Denver Broncos will keep making moves. On Monday, general manager George Paton pulled the trigger to sign wide receiver Hakeem Butler, a former highly-touted prospect who hasn’t truly been able to prove himself in the NFL but that has played well year after year in the UFL.
Butler’s UFL performance
Hakeem Butler has been a consistent weapon in minor leagues. After short stints for the BC Lions and Edmonton Elks in the CFL, the big-bodied receiver found his game in the UFL. This is his fourth season with the St. Louis Battlehawks (the first one in the old XFL, and the past three in the UFL). And 2026 was his second, after 2024, as the UFL offensive player of the year. In both seasons, he was the receiving yards leader.
In nine games this season, Butler had 29 catches for 641 yards and three touchdowns. He also had three catches for 2024 in one playoff game.
The Battlehawks had a 6-4 record in the regular season, the second seed, but lost to the eventual champions Louisville Kings in the league’s semifinals.
NFL trajectory
A 6-5, 242-pound receiver, Hakeem Butler has a tight end body for NFL standards. But his ability to move made him a receiver, and that combination created intrigue ahead of the 2019 draft. He was a fourth-rounder by the Arizona Cardinals, but broke his hand as a rookie and never played for the team. He also had stints for the Carolina Panthers and Philadelphia Eagles. Butler played only two NFL games, both for the Eagles, with one target and no catches.
Since he first signed with the Battlehawks, this is Butler’s third new opportunity in the NFL. He signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023 and with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024, but didn’t make the 53-man roster in either of these chances.
Broncos’ WR room
Hakeem Butler joins a crowded room in terms of depth, and the fight for roster spots is intriguing. The Broncos acquired Jaylen Waddle this offseason, and also have other talented players like Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims.
Beyond them, the WR group has Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Michael Woods II, Michael Bandy, plus undrafted rookies Cam Ross, Joseph Manjack, Dane Key, and Kolbe Katsis.
Butler won’t have any type of advantage to make the roster or the practice squad over these players. But it’s intriguing for a Sean Payton offense to add such a big-bodied weapon with real professional experience and see what he can do in the preseason.