Hakeem

Butler

Butler was a fourth-round pick of the Cardinals back in 2019 and has appeared in just two games since entering the league. Still waiting to catch his first NFL pass, Butler was named the UFL’s Offensive Player of the Year this season after going for 45-652-5 as a member of the St. Louis Battlehawks. The 6-foot-5 speedster who once blazed a 4.48 at the NFL Scouting Combine could have a chance to earn an invite to Panthers training camp if all goes well, but he would be a long shot to make the 53-man roster at this time.

Wide receiver Cody White was also waived with an injury designation. Butler joined the Steelers after a successful stint in the XFL. Even if he doesn’t fine a new home in the NFL, it’s possible he returns to spring football next year.

Butler, 27, who had converted to tight end with the Eagles in 2020, tore up the XFL this spring for the St. Louis BattleHawks. Butler ranked second in receptions (51) and receiving yards (599) during the XFL’s 2023 season. He dominated targets and catches for the BattleHawks, using his large frame efficiently. Butler has a shot to make the Steelers roster this season but would likely be the team’s No. 4 wideout, at best.

The Eagles signed and converted Butler from wide receiver to tight end in September. The experiment didn’t immediately take, but Butler will now have the entire offseason program to learn his new position. Going on 25, Butler will be old for a third-year pro, though he has the size and physical ability to get on the Darren Waller/Logan Thomas track. That, of course, is an unlikely outcome.

The Eagles needed roster spots after they activated Dallas Goedert, Jason Peters, and Jalen Reagor from IR. Butler played just one offensive snap in his two appearances with the Eagles. The 2019 fourth-rounder could be re-signed to the practice squad.

The Eagles have been ravaged by injuries at receiver and tight end this year but Hakeem Butler still isn’t up to speed. The Eagles signed Butler off the Panthers’ practice squad two weeks ago but he’s also converting from receiver to tight end. That leaves Greg Ward as the top pass-catching option after Zach Ertz. Rookie Quez Watkins is making his debut and could add a downfield threat for Carson Wentz to target.

The Eagles are converting wideout Butler to tight end. The No. 103 overall pick of last year’s draft, Butler spent Arizona’s entire 2019 season on injured reserve with a finger injury, a highly-unusual occurrence. He then failed to make the Cardinals’ practice squad after being waived this summer. He had been cooling his heels in Carolina. The position switch is certainly in line with Butler’s 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame, though he does not lack for high-end athleticism. The Eagles are hoping they have a Darren Waller on their hands, but fantasy players shouldn’t be surprised if Butler sees zero targets during Dallas Goedert’s (ankle) absence. This is almost certainly a move made with the long-term in mind. This is the stuff Dynasty league fliers are made of.

Arizona waived the 2019 draft pick this week after he spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve. If it wasn’t already clear, the Cardinals have given up on Butler, who wowed at the 2019 NFL Combine with a 97th percentile speed score and a 95th percentile catch radius.

Drafted 103rd overall last year as the first pick of the fourth round, Butler never transitioned his huge pre-draft Combine performance into a meaningful role with Arizona. He spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve with a broken finger. Butler made minimal noise this summer and finds himself looking for a new team. Another club will certainly take a chance on his freakish athleticism, but not making it in coach Kliff Kingsbury’s WR-friendly offense is a major concern. Arizona also cut DT Miles Brown, OG Sam Jones, P Ryan Winslow, and waived/injured OT Brett Toth.

Butler was a Draft Twitter favorite after a huge final season at Iowa State, but the writing was on the wall that the NFL viewed him differently when he was selected with the No. 103 overall pick. Butler didn’t have a good camp as a rookie in 2019, so Arizona hid him on injured reserve with a thumb injury. His camp has, once again, been slow this offseason. For now, fellow second-year pro Andy Isabella has the inside lane for the No. 4 receiver job in coach Kliff Kingsbury’s four-receiver sets.