Broncos left with no choice as Hakeem Butler's preseason sealed his fate

As cool of a story as it may have been, the Denver Broncos will not be the team that officially unlocks wide receiver Hakeem Butler at the NFL level.

Unfortunately, the former Arizona Cardinals 4th-round pick and UFL star has officially become the team's first notable cut of the preseason. The Broncos have moved on after seeing Butler throughout training camp as well as a couple of preseason games.

And while the entire body of work gets factored in, the preseason game against the Green Bay Packers may have been what sealed Butler's fate with the team. He left them with no choice.

Denver Broncos move on from UFL star WR Hakeem Butler after two preseason games

Against the Green Bay Packers, Butler got a couple of targets for what could have been big plays if not touchdowns, and he let both of them hit the ground.

He was also targeted twice in the preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons, but couldn't come down with either of those chances.

The Broncos gave Butler a real shot. He was not exactly working with the starting unit throughout the course of training camp, but he got opportunities throughout practices to show that he could be a weapon on downfield throws, but his practice results were a mixed bag, as well.

He was beaten by rookie UDFA cornerback Brent Austin (who gives up no fewer than six inches on Butler) in a jump ball situation and was called out on multiple occasions for missed blocks and low-effort plays.

After a couple of standout days to open training camp (when the pads weren't on), it's really disappointing that Butler's storyline took a turn for the worse. He definitely didn't do enough to make the roster, but the fact that he didn't even do enough to warrant a look on the practice squad is even more staggering.

The Broncos certainly have some really good top-end talent as well as depth at the receiver position, so making the team would have been an upset in the first place, but the Broncos typically carry at least three receivers on their practice squad. Butler had a chance to make a case for himself, and simply couldn't do it.

And this is likely what a number of other NFL teams have discovered through the years that has led to Butler being a bit of a professional football journeyman. He's had time with the Bengals, Steelers, Eagles, and Cardinals, as well as his stints in other pro leagues. The way he played this past season in the UFL drew the attention of the Broncos, and being on one of the best teams in the AFC wasn't enough of an opportunity to draw Butler's best efforts day in and day out, at least from the perception of those observing.

Apparently, the Broncos agreed.

Part of the preseason means capitalizing on the opportunities you're given, and Butler couldn't do that. Now, his fate is sealed.

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