Arizona Cardinals: Butler didn’t do it for team

The Arizona Cardinals parted ways with 2019 fourth round pick Hakeem Butler on Friday

In a move that was expected by many but still a surprise to others, the Arizona Cardinals released receiver Hakeem Butler on Friday.  Unfortunately he was a victim of depth after missing the 2019 season.

The story was he didn’t have a good camp.  This was coming off a 2019 season in which he got injured in training camp.  He reportedly also was not performing well in camp at that time either.

Sending Butler packing means the Cardinals are likely going to be keeping just six receivers when their initial 53-man roster is made official tomorrow. Don’t expect Butler to remain on the outside of a roster long.

Fans of other teams are already clamoring for their team to sign Butler.  He most likely ends up on a team’s practice squad though.  If he clears waivers the Cardinals could bring him back to their 16-man practice squad.

If he’s not picked up, he could also sign with another team’s practice squad.  He would seem best served however staying in Arizona if they offered him a spot.

However there may have been a reason Butler was among the teams five released players on Friday ahead of the majority of cuts coming on Saturday.  That would be the Cardinals aren’t considering bringing him back and wanted to allow Butler to land elsewhere before the rush of players that hit the waiver wire Saturday,

Butler was released along with punter Ryan Winslow, defensive lineman Miles Brown, offensive lineman Sam Jones, and they waived-injured offensive lineman Brett Toth.  Winslow was also caught in a game of depth.

As long as Andy Lee remains around and healthy, Winslow was never going to win the job here.  Don’t be surprised if he doesn’t end with another team, he could end up back on a Cardinals roster in the future.