The Broncos may have found another UFL winner in Hakeem Butler, and he’s wasting no time making the case.
Denver already hit on pass rusher Dondrea Tillman a couple of years ago after bringing him over from the UFL, and Butler is trying to follow that same path. The Broncos became the first NFL team to sign a UFL player once league rules allowed it, landing Butler after he won UFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2026. On paper, the move made sense immediately: he was a former fourth-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals, and the traits still jump off the page at 6-foot-5 with 4.48 speed in the 40-yard dash.
So far at Broncos training camp, the early returns have been loud.
In just two days of real practices, Butler has already hauled in two long touchdown catches. He had been showing off that size advantage even before camp opened, including back at minicamp in June.
One of the latest connections came on a Stidham misdirection heave to Butler, who caught his second long TD pass in two days of camp. Onlookers described the throw from Stidham to Butler as being 70-plus yards.
That’s the matchup Butler has spent his career chasing: using rare size and speed to overwhelm defensive backs. The challenge now is whether he can keep doing it against the Broncos’ top two defensive units as camp goes on.
The talent has always been there. Butler was drafted out of Iowa State in 2019 and came into the league with plenty of believers in draft circles because of his physical tools.
But he has never quite put it together at the NFL level. In baseball terms, he’s the kind of player who lives in that “AAAA” lane - too good for Triple-A, not quite established enough to stick in the majors.
Denver may be the place that finally unlocks it.
The obstacle isn’t only about Butler’s ability. The Broncos already have a crowded receiver room, and the competition is fierce from the jump. Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Marvin Mims Jr., Pat Bryant, and Lil’Jordan Humphrey are all making plays and stacking days early in camp.
That makes Butler’s climb tougher, but it also makes his start more interesting. It’s still early, yet he’s already turned himself into one of the names to watch as camp unfolds.
And because he’s 30 years old and has been grinding for this chance for so long, the upside here goes beyond another roster battle. This has the feel of a real camp story if he keeps this up.
In Other News...
Broncos Practice Reveals Promising Offensive Shift Under New Play Caller
The Broncos first full training camp practice with fans in the stands offered an early look at what Davis Webb wants this offense to become. Denvers new offensive coordinator had the group moving with a sharper rhythm than is typical for a first padded session, and the passing game showed plenty of variety as the receivers were worked into the action throughout the day.
Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddle, Marvin Mims Jr. and Evan Engram all found ways to stay involved, with the offense connecting on vertical shots and screen concepts that kept the defense from settling in. Bo Nix, Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger each handled their work well, which only adds to the intrigue as camp moves forward and the Broncos keep sorting out how much of this early momentum can carry into the rest of the summer. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos Add A New Cornerback As Camp Competition Heats Up
With training camp closing in, the Broncos are continuing to churn the bottom of the roster at cornerback, a spot where every practice rep matters. Denver added veteran defensive back Sam Webb, bringing in a player with previous NFL stops in Cleveland, Las Vegas, Carolina and Tennessee as the team looks to shore up depth before the real competition begins.
Blake Cottons path has taken a setback in the process, with the rookie corner being waived in an injury settlement. For a Broncos secondary trying to sort out its depth chart, the move underscores how quickly camp bodies can change this time of year, and how much opportunity is still out there for anyone healthy enough to take advantage of it. [Read more 🡒]