4. Hakeem Butler, Wide receiver
This is a player that many Steelers fans were excited about when Pittsburgh signed him to a summer contract. Hakeem Butler was a very intriguing wide receiver prospect during the 2019 NFL Draft process. At 6'5 3/8'' with massive 35 1/4'' arms and 4.48 speed, Butler was an exceptionally rare breed of receiver.
After sliding in the draft and falling out of favor early in his career with the Cardinals, Butler was forced to make his mark in the XFL. After being one of the offensive stars of the league in 2023, the Steelers invited Butler to a tryout and later signed him. Sadly, this experiment hasn't worked out as we had all hoped.
While Butler will make the occasional contested catch down the field, he's clearly lost amongst a crowded group of wide receivers. Players like George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, Calvin Austin, and Allen Robinson have all been notably better at training camp. Even Gunner Olszewski -- another WR on the roster bubble -- has had a much stronger camp.
Butler was already a long shot to make the team, but his inability to stand out during Pittsburgh's preseason opener didn't help. The good news for Butler is that Myles Boykin hasn't done much this summer either, but Boykin does have a leg up thanks to his special teams ability. Butler needs to make his mark fast before he's tossed aside during roster cuts in a few weeks.