Patriots rumors: Malcolm Butler signs free agent tender
By John Buhler
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler has reportedly signed his free agent tender to stay with New England. Could he still be traded though?
One of the last remaining 2017 NFL free agency storylines of note has been resolved. After speculation of a potential trade to the New Orleans Saints, it seems that cornerback Malcolm Butler will stay with the New England Patriots for 2017.
Since Butler was slapped with a first-round tender, that would mean the Saints would have to give up their own first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft to grab Butler. No, the Saints can trade back the No. 32 overall pick they got from New England in the Brandin Cooks trade.
For the Saints to make a deal for Butler, they would have to concede the No. 11 overall pick to the Patriots. New England may have interest in that pick, probably to grab a pass rusher or a front-seven player in Matt Patricia’s defense. However, the Saints will be looking to use that selection on a pass rusher to pair alongside defensive end Cameron Jordan.
Source: Patriots CB Malcolm Butler has signed his restricted free agent tender. A trade is still on the table.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 18, 2017
In short, Butler to the Saints in 2017 is probably not going to happen. However, New England can trade Butler to another NFL franchise, as long as that club is willing to part with its own 2017 first-round pick.
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If that’s the case, only three teams can’t trade for Butler this spring: the Los Angeles Rams, the Minnesota Vikings and the Philadelphia Eagles. Those three teams do not own their own first-round pick in the NFL Draft.