New England Patriots free agency 2018: Top 5 targets

3. Kyle Fuller

We’re going to be very blunt here, and just say it how it is: Malcolm Butler is on his way out in New England, and the Patriots will likely be better off for it. Now, it’s time to move on, and find a younger cornerback to replace the Super Bowl XLIX hero.

Butler has been the source of drama ever since the trade rumors and the Brandin Cooks situation started after last season, and it never once halted during the 2017-2018 season. He rarely spoke to the media, wasn’t really a star defensively and didn’t do himself any favors if he’s looking for a massive payday in a few months.

However, even with all of that in mind, Butler will be looking for some big money, and a team like the New York Jets or Buffalo Bills would surely dive in to swoop Butler away from their divisional rivals to improve their secondary. In the end, Bill Belichick just needs a young body to replace Butler, and all will be right in Foxboro.

Enter Kyle Fuller. Fuller is a perfect replacement for Butler, as he is two years younger with an inch height advantage. He’s proven himself over the years in Chicago to be more than capable of performing in the secondary, and he could serve as the perfect number two corner for the Patriots.

Belichick would help groom Fuller into a solid corner, he’d help pick up the slack if Stephon Gilmore ever struggles or Jonathan Jones doesn’t grow as fast as the team hopes, and it’d all work out perfectly on both ends.