On Monday, June 15, the Denver Broncos shuffled their roster by bringing in two new players from outside the NFL. The team signed the duo from the UFL's St. Louis Battlehawks, wide receiver Hakeem Butler and cornerback Sean Fresch.

The move brought Butler in as an additional weapon for Bo Nix. They released injured wide receiver Michael Woods to make space for Butler.

“I’m deeply excited about the opportunity just to compete and the opportunity itself, and I would say that’s really where I’m at right now,” Butler said, according to the Denver Gazette.

The 30-year-old receiver has been a superstar in the UFL minor league, earning the top offensive player award in both 2024 and 2026. 

Per reports, his history with the NFL runs deeper. Butler first entered the NFL back in 2019 when the Arizona Cardinals drafted him out of Iowa State Cyclones and signed him to a $3.3 million deal. 

But an injury wiped out his first year, and the team let him go the next summer. Over the next few years, he bounced around the league, spending short amounts of time with the Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Pittsburgh Steelers without finding a permanent home.

Instead of quitting, Butler kept chasing his dream. He played in the UFL and became a star for the UFL's Battlehawks. He also had a quick stop with the Cincinnati Bengals. During his recent 2026 season in St. Louis, he caught 29 passes for 641 yards and scored three touchdowns, as reported by the Denver Gazette.

The Broncos have often looked to the UFL for roster additions, with outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman standing out as their key pickup in 2024. They also signed cornerback Mario Goodrich in June 2025, but released him in August last year.

Now, Butler is looking to bring that same success to Denver.

What Does Signing Hakeem Butler Mean For The Broncos

Signing Butler gives the Broncos a low-risk chance to look at a very big, fast wide receiver. Standing at 6-foot-5, Butler is coming off a great season in spring football, where he was named the UFL Offensive Player of the Year.

"Big long-strider with exceptional length and good build-up speed to challenge cover corners and safeties down the field," reads his NFL Media scouting profile.

He joins Denver at a good time because the team needs extra help after they released Woods. However, Butler faces a very tough battle to find his spot as Denver's wide receiver room is already crowded.

The top spots on the depth chart belong to stars like Jaylen Waddle and Courtland Sutton. According to Sports Illustrated, Butler is not expected to challenge them. Instead, he will fight for a spot on the practice squad against players like Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Michael Bandy.

For head coach Sean Payton, this move is all about building strong competition. If Butler cannot keep up, the Broncos can easily cut him with no financial loss. But if he plays well, his size and speed make him an exciting project worth developing.

What do you think of the Broncos' addition of a player from outside the NFL? Share your thoughts.

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Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar