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Steelers' Hakeem Butler May Not Be The Only Former XFL Player Who Has A Legitimate Chance Of Making The 53-Man Roster In 2023
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers' Hakeem Butler May Not Be The Only Former XFL Player Who Has A Legitimate Chance Of Making The 53-Man Roster In 2023

Originally posted on Steeler Nation  |  By Jackson Shover  |  Last updated 6/21/23

The Pittsburgh Steelers added one of the best players in the XFL in the 2023 offseason with the signing of former St. Louis Battlehawks' wide receiver, Hakeem Butler. Originally a fourth-round pick by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, Butler made a name for himself during his time in the XFL, hauling in 51 receptions for 599 yards and eight touchdowns. With the Steelers' release of fellow wide receiver, Anthony Miller, on Tuesday, the chances of the former Battlehawks' standout making the 53-man roster rise significantly. Interestingly enough, he may be joined by another former XFL player on the Steelers in 2023. 

While Butler has received much of the attention from fans, cornerback, Luq Barcoo, who played for the Hines Ward-led San Antonio Brahmas in the XFL, is an interesting name to keep an eye on during training camp. Barcoo had a number of stints with various NFL teams from 2020-2022 prior to his time in the XFL. In his lone season with the Brahmas, he was widely considered one of the best defensive backs in the league and was an All-XFL selection. At 6'1", he has the ideal height and length to make him a realistic candidate as a backup corner for the Steelers in 2023. 


Steelers Currently Have Depth Issues At Cornerback 

The Steelers currently possess a formidable top trio of corners in Patrick Peterson, Levi Wallace and Joey Porter Jr. From there, there are serious questions regarding who will occupy the final two, and perhaps even three, spots in the group. Seventh-round pick, Cory Trice Jr., as well as 2023 free agent signing, Chandon Sullivan would likely be the most logical answers, but they are far from locks to make the team. 

The Steelers also have James Pierre, who has shown glimpses of immense talent during his three seasons in Pittsburgh, but has not shown the necessary consistency to make him a part of the long-term plan in the defensive back room. 

While Barcoo lacks extensive experience playing in the slot, this may be the best chance of him sticking around in Pittsburgh. The Steelers will be without their top two nickel corners from a season ago in Cam Sutton and Arthur Maulet, which creates an opportunity for players such as Barcoo to step up and fill the role. Sullivan, who has been effective in the slot during his five seasons in the NFL, will open training camp as the favorite, but the coaching staff will be diligent in exploring all of their options to ensure the defense is in the best possible position to succeed in 2023. 

The Steelers have made their intentions clear regarding the type of cornerback they want to have on their roster, as both Porter Jr. and Trice Jr. are tall, lengthy players who are highly athletic. Could this work in Barcoo's favor? It's certainly possible, as the team may view him as a viable option for replacing Pierre as the primary backup at outside corner. All things considered, the former XFL star has to feel confident in his shot of playing in the NFL in 2023. Do not be surprised if Barcoo is a player who makes some noise in Latrobe. 


What do you make of Barcoo's chances of making the Steelers' roster in 2023? Are you confident in the depth at cornerback? Be sure to

This article first appeared on SteelerNation.com and was syndicated with permission.

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