Malcolm Butler rumors: New Orleans Saints putting together offer
By John Buhler
The New Orleans Saints are reportedly putting together an offer for restricted free agent cornerback Malcolm Butler, formerly of the New England Patriots.
With the New England Patriots spending big in NFL free agency to sign cornerback Stephon Gilmore away from the AFC East-rival Buffalo Bills, it seems that the Patriots are poised to lose Super Bowl XLIX hero cornerback Malcolm Butler this spring.
New England already saw cornerback Logan Ryan sign with the Tennessee Titans this March. Now it seems that Butler will be inking a fresh contract in restricted free agency with the New Orleans Saints.
According to CSNE’s Michael Giardi, the “parameters of [a] deal [are] mostly in place” for Butler to sign with the Saints in restricted free agency. New England has placed a first-round tender on the premier cornerback and can match any offer the Saints give him this offseason.
Don't read too much into silence on Butler front. Focused on Saints. Parameters of deal mostly in place. Some quibbling over guaranteed $$$
— Mike Giardi (@MikeGiardi) March 20, 2017
Butler grew up in the Saints’ backyard, playing his high school ball in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He played his college ball in the Gulf Coast region at Hinds Community College, Alcorn State, and West Alabama. A return to the region may be triggering Butler’s decision to want to sign with the Saints.
However, he went down in football lore for this game-winning interception of Russell Wilson at the goal line in Super Bowl XLIX versus the Seattle Seahawks. New England still values Butler and has the cap space to bring him back if head coach Bill Belichick wants to. However, Belichick doesn’t fall in love with players, just in like with them.
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Because the Patriots slapped a first-round tender on Butler, they win either way in this scenario. If he does sign with the Saints, the Patriots will be compensated with a future first round pick. Belichick will look like a genius if Butler can’t hang in the Saints secondary like so many corners before him.