The Denver Broncos have signed veteran wide receiver Hakeem Butler, the reigning UFL Offensive Player of the Year, just ahead of their mandatory minicamp, which starts on Tuesday. According to NFL insider Mike Garafolo, Butler joins the team after a dominant season with the St. Louis Battlehawks, where he led the UFL with 641 receiving yards on 29 catches.
Standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 242 pounds, the 30-year-old receiver will now compete for a spot on the Broncos’ roster.
Butler’s professional
path has been an extensive journey through multiple leagues. A fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, he has spent time with the Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cincinnati Bengals. His career also includes stints in the CFL with the BC Lions and Edmonton Elks, as well as a successful tenure in the XFL before the league merged into the UFL, where he has now earned Offensive Player of the Year honors twice.
Before his professional career, Butler established himself as one of the most prolific receivers in Iowa State history. During his 2018 junior season, he shattered Lane Danielsen’s school record (1,073 in 2002) for receiving yards in a single season with 1,318 and ranked third nationally with 22.0 yards per reception. His collegiate accolades include being named a Second-Team All-American and a First-Team All-Big 12 selection, while also being a semifinalist for the Tyler Rose Award.
Throughout his three seasons as a Cyclone, Butler was a big-play threat, responsible for numerous receptions of 50 yards or more. He concluded his college career with 110 receptions, 2,149 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns, setting a school record for career yards per reception at 19.5. Notable performances included a career-high 192 receiving yards in the Valero Alamo Bowl against Washington State and a 174-yard game against Oklahoma.
