Steelers Insiders Believe Hakeem Butler May Have A Slim, But Realistic Path To Make The Team In 2023

The Pittsburgh Steelers' depth at wide receiver has been discussed extensively this offseason. In all likelihood, the group of Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, Allen Robinson, and Calvin Austin III will be the team's top four going in to 2023. Assuming the Steelers decide to keep six receivers on their roster, there will be competition amongst players such as Miles Boykin, Anthony Miller, Gunner Olszewski, Cody White, and Hakeem Butler for the final two spots. 

There is perhaps no bigger wild card at wide receiver for the Steelers than Butler. A former fourth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, he has most recently played in the XFL with the St. Louis Battlehawks where he was one of the league's most dynamic pass catchers. While many fans were excited to have Butler brought in by the Steelers, he will most likely face an uphill battle in landing on the team's active roster in 2023. 

During a recent video posted on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette website, Steelers' insiders, Adam Bittner and Paul Zeise took the time to discuss whether or not Butler has a legitimate chance of making the team. While both Bittner and Zeise recognize the amount of talent the former XFL star brings to the table, they believe it is more likely than not that he will fall short of cracking the Steelers' roster. 

"When you're 6'6" and 225 pounds, and you run at a decent clip, if you haven't hooked on with an NFL team, there's gotta be a reason why," described Zeise about Butler's chances of making the team in 2023. 

How Confident Should The Steelers Be In Their Wide Receiver Group In 2023? 

The Steelers possess a formidable trio of top receivers in Johnson, Pickens, and Robinson. All three have proven their worth as playmakers and will inevitably be called upon extensively to help Kenny Pickett orchestrate a top offense in 2023. However, beyond those three, there are serious question marks in regards to who will emerge as viable options for Pickett. Austin III, the team's fourth-round pick in 2022, certainly has the talent, but is coming off a rookie campaign where he failed to play a single snap due to a foot injury. 

While Zeise and Bittner believe Butler will be on the outside looking in with the Steelers this upcoming season, they still do not completely rule out his chances due to the lack of depth beyond Johnson, Pickens, and Robinson. 

"You've got Pickens, Robinson, and Johnson. Beyond that, who is a lock to make the team? That's why you would say a guy [Butler] like this has a shot. At the end of the day, it's not really that deep of a room," answered Zeise in regards to the Steelers' current depth at wide receiver.

Zeise also mentioned that he was in favor of the Steelers adding a wide receiver with one of their early selections in the 2023 NFL Draft. While this ultimately did not come to fruition, Butler may serve as a decent consolation prize due to his impressive athletic ability and success in the XFL. Needless to say, the former fourth-round pick will need a strong showing in both training camp, as well as the preseason in order to improve his stock. As Zeise points out, the team will be interested to see how he performs against NFL competition. 

Final Thoughts On Butler

There is no denying that Butler possesses all the necessary physical attributes to be a serious difference-maker for the Steelers in 2023. With that being said, it will take nearly a flawless training camp and preseason for the team to consider keeping him around in Pittsburgh this upcoming season. He will need to make the most out of each and every opportunity presented to him. If he does so, he may finally have a second chance of reviving his NFL career. 

Alright, Steeler Nation. Do you believe Butler will make the team in 2023? Do you view him more as a practice squad player? What other receivers on the roster are you expecting big things out of? Let us know in the comments! 

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