The Denver Broncos just dropped a bombshell, shaking up their roster by bringing in edge rusher Ron Stone Jr. while simultaneously waiving wide receiver Hakeem Butler. This is a classic late-camp move, a desperate shuffle before the real action starts, and it tells you everything about the fight for those final roster spots in the NFL.
The UFL Pipeline Delivers a New Hope
Let’s talk about Ron Stone Jr. This dude isn’t some fresh-off-the-couch guy, no sir. He actually hit the NFL scene back in 2024, scooped up by the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent after a genuinely solid collegiate career. We’re talking about a guy who piled up a massive 202 total tackles and 31.5 tackles for a loss. That’s serious production, and it’s wild he didn’t stick with an NFL roster as a rookie. But Stone didn’t quit, finding his way to the UFL with the Columbus Aviators earlier this year. He put up some solid numbers there, too: 5.5 sacks and 5 tackles for a loss across 10 games. The Broncos are clearly seeing something here, especially since they’ve already had success plucking talent from the UFL with Dondrea Tillman, who has really developed into a great depth pass rusher for them. Now, as a late addition to training camp, Stone’s chances of actually making the final 53-man roster are probably slim. But you gotta wonder if Denver has a long-term vision for him, maybe a spot on the practice squad next week. That’s where the real intrigue lies.
Hakeem Butler’s Shot Falls Short
To make room for Stone, the Broncos said goodbye to another former UFL star, wide receiver Hakeem Butler. This one’s a tough pill to swallow for fans who might have had high hopes. Butler had some big opportunities in last week’s preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, but it was apparently a pretty rough outing. His jump ball abilities, which looked so promising on paper, just didn’t quite pan out when it mattered during the preseason grind. It’s a brutal reality of this league, how quickly you can go from “potential star” to “waived” when the on-field performance isn’t there. Every player gets their shot, and sometimes, it just doesn’t connect.
This whole situation really cranks up the pressure. The NFL’s roster deadline is a mere five days away, people. Every single move now is critical, every practice rep, every chance for these guys to prove they belong. For Stone, the next few days are about showing enough to earn that practice squad spot and prove Denver’s gamble is worth it. For all the other guys fighting for a roster spot, these final five days are everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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