XFL star will be given a chance to make the Steelers roster with camp invite

Omar Khan is looking for every opportunity to improve the Pittsburgh Steelers roster following the 2023 NFL Draft. In addition to loading up on undrafted free agents this past week, Khan is also dipping into the XFL player pool.

On Wednesday, the official XFL Twitter account confirmed that wide receiver Hakeem Butler has been invited to Steelers training camp. This doesn't even guarantee a contract for Butler, but the 2019 version of myself would be very excited about this invite.

After being drafted by the Cardinals in the fourth round back in 2019, Butler failed to fit into their offensive game plan, and his rookie contract was ultimately terminated in the same year he was drafted. He then bounced around the Panthers and Eagles practice squads before landing in the XFL.

In the XFL, Butler found new life. As a wide receiver for the St. Louis Battlehawks, Butler was second in the league in receiving yards and receptions during the 2023 season while leading the XFL with 8 touchdown receptions, per XFL stats.

Can Hakeem Butler make the Steelers roster?

Entering the 2019 NFL Draft, Butler was a player that many draft analysts had a second or third-round grade on, and it wasn't hard to see why. The former Iowa State receiver stood at over 6'5'' and 227 pounds and possessed 4.48 speed. Here's a look at his size/athletic traits at the NFL Combine, via MockDraftable.com:

Butler was a pretty fluid mover for his size as well. Sadly, his NFL career didn't go as planned, and he now faces a massive uphill battle for a roster spot.

While Butler will be given a look at Steelers camp this summer, his chances of earning a contract and sticking around on the 53-man roster aren't very high. Right now, Pittsburgh's wide receiver corps consists of George Pickens, Diontae Johnson, Allen Robinson, Calvin Austin III, Miles Boykin, Anthony Miller, and Gunner Olszewski.

Because the top four players are locks to make the team, Butler will have to prove that he's able to be a capable special-teamer if he wants to stick around. This is something he's never been known for.

If Butler is with the Steelers throughout the preseason, I have little doubt that he's going to turn some heads thanks to his massive frame, huge catch radius, and excellent body control. But it's going to take more than that if he wants to revive his fallen NFL career.

Hakeem Butler turns 27 years old this May, and the XFL star will need to play out of his mind this summer to have any hope of making a comeback. This Steelers camp invite may be his last shot at an NFL roster.