If you've been paying attention to the latest attempt at a Spring professional football league, you're well aware of Hakeem Butler.
The best offensive player in the United Football League, Butler has been an absolute sensation for the St. Louis Battlehawks. Over his four seasons with the team, Butler has taken home the league's Offensive Player of the Year award twice, leading the league in receiving yards multiple times. He's been a big-play machine, averaging more than 22 yards per catch over the past two seasons.
That kind of impact likely has many UFL viewers asking the obvious question: Why isn't this guy in the NFL?
That's where Butler's pro football career began, as a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. After breaking Iowa State's single-season record for receiving yards as a junior, Butler made the early leap to the NFL with one year of college eligibility remaining. His massive 6-5, 227 pounds) made him a constant challenge for smaller defensive backs, something the Cards hoped would turn him into a valuable red-zone weapon.
But after a broken hand cost him his entire rookie season, Arizona waived Butler during final roster cuts just before the regular season. After short stints on the practice squad for the Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers, Butler failed to stick with multiple teams in the Canadian Football League before landing with the Battlehawks (then part of the XFL).
The same combination of size and physicality that made Butler so dominant in college resurfaced in the UFL, and his playmaking ability helped the St. Louis tally 31-14 regular-season record over the past four seasons, with three playoff appearances.
Along the way, Butler kept getting interest from the NFL once the UFL season had wrapped. But despite getting shots with the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers over the past two years, Butler hasn't been able to secure a regular-season roster spot in the NFL.
But after another successful campaign for the Battlehawks, Butler is getting another shot, this time from the Denver Broncos.
Will the third time be a charm for Butler to turn his UFL success into regular-season action at the NFL level?
If that's going to happen, Denver feels like a fantastic landing spot. Sean Payton's offense has proven to be a thriving atmosphere for big pass-catchers who straddle that line between wide receiver and tight end, allowing Payton create matchup problems for smaller defensive backs or slower linebackers. Butler could give him a unique weapon to move around the offense, and a useful target for Bo Nix on third downs and in the red zone.
At 30 years old, this might be Butler's last chance to find success in the NFL. Even if that doesn't happen, though, his success in the UFL proves the value of Spring football, giving talented players the opportunity to extend their careers and continue to play the game they love.
