The Broncos are looking again to beef up their roster courtesy of the United Football League.

Denver on Monday signed wide receiver Hakeem Butler and cornerback Sean Fresch Jr., both from the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks. Although the Broncos didn’t announce the moves, Butler and Fresch confirmed them to The Denver Gazette. Both players will take the field Tuesday for the start of a three-day minicamp at Broncos Park.

The Broncos have looked regularly to sign players from the UFL, the most notable addition being outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman, who joined them in 2024. Last June, they signed UFL cornerback Mario Goodrich but he was waived in August.

“I’m deeply excited about the opportunity just to compete and the opportunity itself, and I would say that’s really where I’m at right now,” Butler said.

Butler was named UFL Offensive Player of the Year in both 2024 and 2026. Fresch was an All-UFL punt returner in 2026.

“I feel amazing,” Fresch said. “It’s my first NFL contract. I’m on top of the world right now. It’s a great team to be a part of. Great city, and I got a couple of guys I know on the team in Hakeem and Jahdae Barron (a cornerback who, like Fresch, is from Austin, Texas). So I’m feeling pretty good. I’m excited to get to work.”

The 6-foot-5, 227-pound Butler, 30, was originally a fourth-round draft pick by the Arizona Cardinals out of Iowa State in 2019. His only NFL regular-season experience was appearing in two games in 2020 for the Philadelphia Eagles without a catch.

Butler played for the Battlehawks from 2024-26. In 2026, he led the league with 29 catches for 641 yards.

“Hakeem, he’s an outstanding player,” Fresch said. “First of all just his size alone, it’s going to be hard for any defender that stands in front of him. He’s got great hands. He’s a vet. … He’s very aggressive. He can block.”

Butler and Fresch both arrived in Denver Sunday. Butler said he will be spending plenty of time this week studying the playbook.

“I’m trying to learn all this stuff to give me the best chance to compete,” he said.

Butler can provide additional depth at receiver due to veteran Michael Woods having had a right leg injury. Woods missed time the past two weeks in organized team activities.

The 5-foot-9, 181-pound Fresch had 32 punt returns for 333 yards for a 10.4 average in 2026. Fresch, 24, was undrafted in 2025 after five seasons at Rice and played two late-season games with the San Antonio Brahmas, then a UFL team. He had a workout last summer with the Eagles but wasn’t signed.

“I think I’m quick,” Fresch said of his return ability. “I’ve had some good success catching the ball. No muffs this season. … I didn’t have a lot of fair catches. I was trying to make a play every time.”

Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi has talked about looking at young returners who could have a chance to make the 53-man roster or at least the practice squad. Two undrafted rookies he has discussed are Kolbe Katsis from Northern Arizona and Cam Ross from Virginia.

Fresch had a workout last week with Houston but wasn’t offered a contract. He worked out with the Broncos last Thursday and had a good idea afterward that they would sign him.

“I spoke with (Broncos coach) Sean Payton afterward and he was pretty interested,” said Fresch, adding that Jacksonville and Indianapolis also had shown interest in him.

NFL teams can start signing UFL players this week after the league held its title game Saturday, with the Louisville Kings defeating the DC Defenders 27-20.

The signings of Butler and Fresch will officially be announced Tuesday. The Broncos will then need to make two moves to stay at the NFL offseason roster limit of 90. They actually can have 91 players due to punter Jeremy Crawshaw, a native of Australia, having a roster exemption as an international player.