The Panthers hosted former Cardinals wide receiver Hakeem Butler for a visit on Wednesday, according to the league’s transactions report.
Butler was a fourth-round pick by Arizona in the 2019 NFL draft coming out of Iowa State. He spent his rookie year on injured reserve and the Cards cut him just before the 2020 season began.
While he’s on his way to earning a bust label, Butler has tantalizing athleticism (36-inch vertical) and size (6-foot-5 and 227 pounds), which helps explain the interest. Carolina never really replaced tight end Greg Olsen after he was released and their biggest receiver – the undrafted rookie Omar Bayless – was placed on injured reserve after undergoing knee surgery.
This organization should know as well as any that size doesn’t necessarily make a capable receiver, though. Kelvin Benjamin had a similar frame and he’s currently a free agent after flaming out.
There’s one report that the team is expected to sign Butler to their practice squad but there’s no official word from the Panthers as of yet.
