Broncos add edge rusher Ron Stone Jr., waive WR Hakeem Butler

Denver’s latest roster move reshapes depth on the outside, with the team bringing in Ron Stone Jr. as it trims wide receiver depth by waiving Hakeem Butler.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Denver Broncos made a pair of roster adjustments on Tuesday, signing edge rusher Ron Stone Jr. while waiving wide receiver Hakeem Butler, according to Yahoo Sports reporting published Aug. 25.

The transaction indicates the team’s continued focus on the defensive front as training-camp roster decisions move forward. Stone Jr., listed as an OLB/edge rusher in the report, gives Denver another body at a position group that often requires quick adaptation to different alignments and pass-rush roles.

Butler’s waiver affects the wide receiver room. The move reduces Denver’s depth options at a time when NFL teams are actively sorting the pecking order for target shares and special-teams contributions, two areas that can determine who survives the final cuts.

Yahoo Sports’ report also attributes the information to a post from Parker Gabriel on X, adding a layer of context to how the news reached the public. Even so, with the move framed as a transaction rather than a multi-week storyline, details such as the corresponding roster mechanism, timing, or any subsequent claims were not included in the available information.

Roster churn like this is common in the NFL’s preseason and late-camp window, especially for teams that view the edge and receiver positions as high-turnover groups. For the Broncos, the addition of Stone Jr. suggests they want more looks up front, while the waiver of Butler points to a narrowing path for receivers who need to demonstrate separation, reliable hands, or value beyond the route tree.

What to watch next is whether Stone Jr. takes reps that translate into a clearer role, and whether Butler lands with another club. If the Broncos use the move to address a specific need in pass rush or coverage support, the next wave of practice availability and preseason snap distribution will likely provide the clearest indicators.

If additional reporting or official transaction documentation becomes available, it could help clarify how the moves affected the team’s roster limits and whether either player becomes part of a short-term evaluation window or a longer-term depth plan.

Why It Matters

Signing Stone Jr. adds competition at outside linebacker/edge depth, a group that often plays pivotal roles in pressure packages and rotation schemes.
Waiving Butler tightens the receiver room and can influence how Denver evaluates younger players or fringe veterans in remaining camp practices.
These moves are part of the broader roster-trimming process that helps determine the final construction of position groups before the regular-season cutdown.
How the Broncos deploy Stone Jr. and how the receiver group responds will be key indicators of the team’s priorities on defense and offense.

Sources

Key Facts

The Denver Broncos signed edge rusher Ron Stone Jr., according to Yahoo Sports reporting published Aug. 25, 2026.
The Broncos also waived wide receiver Hakeem Butler in the same report.
The Yahoo Sports item credits a post from Parker Gabriel on X as part of how the update was surfaced.
The transactions were presented as roster changes rather than injury or contract-specific developments.
No additional details such as the corresponding roster move type, timing context, or player usage were included in the available information.