Carolina Panthers to work out UFL's Offensive Player of the Year Hakeem Butler

The Carolina Panthers are expected to host the UFL’s Offensive Player of the Year Hakeem Butler before wrapping up minicamp, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. Butler is coming off of an impressive season with the St. Louis BattleHawks during which he posted 45 catches for a league-best 652 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He earned the OPOY award and a spot on the all-league team as well.

Last year, Butler had 51 receptions for 599 yards and eight touchdowns for the BattleHawks. The team released him, freeing him up to sign on to the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad.

Butler was a fourth-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Iowa State. He spent his rookie year with the Arizona Cardinals but broke his hand leading to his release before the 2020 season. He then signed for the 2020 campaign with the Carolina Panthers practice squad. It was a short-lived stint, however, as he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles days later.

The Eagles moved Butler to tight end but he remained on the practice squad. They re-signed him to a futures contract after the season but they waived him for the start of the 2021 season. After his time in the NFL, the former Cyclones standout played in the CFL for the BC Lions, then the Edmonton Elks. The St. Louis BattleHawks picked Butler up in the 2023 supplemental draft.

The Dallas Cowboys are also working out another former Iowa State and UFL standout this week – Willie Harvey Jr. Harvey and Butler were teammates with the Cyclones before entering the 2019 NFL Draft.

Cowboys to workout UFL linebacker

The Dallas Cowboys are bringing in linebacker Willie Harvey Jr. for a workout, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Harvey played for the St. Louis BattleHawks of the United Football League (UFL) this spring and finished the 2024 season with 78 tackles, and four sacks in 10 games, leading the league in tackles. The 28-year-old also led all linebackers in tackles for loss (nine) passes defended (six) and forced fumbles (two). His production led to him being named to the All-UFL Team.

Harvey has been with the BattleHawks since 2023. He originally signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and played four games in three seasons. Harvey was waived by the Browns in August 2022 and was drafted by the BattleHawks in November of that year.

Harvey played college football for the Iowa State Cyclones and was named to the Honorable Mention All-Big 12 for three consecutive seasons.

On3’s Brian Jones contributed to this report.