Trade to Come? New England Patriots Cornerback Malcolm Butler Has Signed His Tender
Malcolm Butler has now signed his first-round tender with the New England Patriots. Could a trade be coming for him soon?
Field Yates reports that cornerback Malcolm Butler has signed his first-round tender with the New England Patriots.
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
As Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston puts it, “a resolution on his future with the New England Patriots should be reached by the end of the month.”
With a signed tender, a trade can now actually happen. The New Orleans Saints still seem to be the lone team interested in Butler.
Perhaps the Patriots know they won’t be able to sign Butler to a long term deal next year, so a trade would allow them to get something in return. It’s the same formula the team used with Chandler Jones last season.
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The Patriots highest pick in the NFL Draft next week is in round 3, pick 72.
"“If the Saints were willing to return the first-round pick they received from the Patriots (No. 32 overall) in the Brandin Cooks trade, that might be enticing for Bill Belichick. Or a combination of high second- and third-round picks might even be viewed as more valuable to Belichick for a player who is unlikely to return to the team in 2018,” Reiss said."
Butler will likely look for a big pay day in 2018, and that’s not going to come in New England. If New Orleans is willing to send a few picks to Foxboro, this should be a done deal. The Patriots will still be set at corner with Stephon Gilmore and Eric Rowe. They could also look to bring in the second McCourty brother, Jason, to sure up the group.
A trade for Richard Sherman is also possible, as detailed here.
Next: James White Signs Three-Year Extension
Either way, the Patriots will be ok. They will either trade Butler and get a healthy return, or they will have a solid #2 corner for 2017.