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Sean Payton comments on Broncos signing 2 players from UFL
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- Sean Payton comments on Broncos signing 2 players from UFL
The Denver Broncos had a busy start to the week, which included signing wide receiver Hakeem Butler and cornerback Sean Fresch of the UFL's St. Louis Battlehawks. Now, the Broncos have had some recent success finding players from spring leagues, including the USFL and UFL's Dondrea Tillman . The rotational pass rusher has totaled nine sacks over the last two seasons in Denver.
Both Fresch and Butler worked out for the team this spring, impressing the coaching staff enough to earn spots on the 91-man offseason roster. Broncos coach Sean Payton spoke about the additions of Butler and Fresch after the first day of mandatory minicamp on Tuesday.
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"Well, we had them worked out last week," Payton said. "(Fresch) is really smart at the nickel, he's a returner, got quick change of direction. (Butler is) a big receiver. There are traits that you see at a position that I think sometimes as you head into camp those are important looks. So both of them had success, and we felt that we helped upgrade the roster."
Fresch (5-8, 173 pounds) totaled 29 tackles, four pass breakups and two sacks in the 2026 UFL spring season (10 games). Fresch also returned 32 punts for 333 yards (which led the UFL) and three kickoffs for 85 yards. His longest punt return of the UFL season was 50 yards.
In 2025, Fresch played in two UFL games, totaling two punt returns for 31 yards and three kickoffs for 46 yards. He also recorded 12 tackles and broke up one pass. Butler (6-5, 242 pounds) is a two-time UFL Offensive Player of the Year, leading the league with 641 receiving yards on 29 receptions this spring.
Butler, 30, was originally picked by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft out of Iowa State. After that, he spent time with two other NFL teams before a stint in the CFL. Butler then spent the 2023 and 2024 spring seasons with the St. Louis Battlehawks (who played in the XFL in 2023).
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Butler had short stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals between his stops in St. Louis, returning to the Battlehawks in 2025. He won the UFL's OPOY award in 2024 and 2026, also earning All-UFL honors in each of those seasons. He led the XFL in receiving yards in 2023, earning All-XFL honors, and he led the UFL in 2024 and 2026.
In four seasons with the Battlehawks (one campaign in the XFL and three seasons in the UFL), Butler totaled 138 receptions for 2,192 yards and 20 touchdowns. He is still seeking his first NFL catch.
Both Butler and Fresch will look to battle their way onto the Broncos ' roster this summer.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: Sean Payton comments on signing 2 players from UFL
