Patriots news & rumors: More tight end issues; A Malcolm Butler reunion?

The New England Patriots will go into another offseason with questions at the tight end position despite the signings of Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith prior to the 2021 NFL season.

Though Henry solved part of the problem as he morphed into a reliable target for Mac Jones, the other tight end never lived up to the hype.  But all is not lost when it comes to Smith, who has the physical attributes to a viable piece in the Patriots offense in 2022.

But, what if he doesn’t?

What if Jonnu Smith is a free agency bust?

The Patriots still have a tight end problem

The Patriots will give him every opportunity to succeed, but you better believe Bill Belichick will add some competition at the position.  Not only will former third-round picks Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene get a chance to compete for the No. 2 and No. 3 tight end roles, don’t be surprised if the Patriots sign another tight end in free agency and or draft for one late in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Although Henry was healthy throughout the 2021 season, he does have a history of injuries.  So, the pressure is really on Smith and Asiasi or Keene to breakthrough and breakout in 2022 to give the Patriots that two tight end threat they have been missing since the days of Rob Gronkowski, who happens to be a free agent.

Just saying.

NFL rumors: Could Malcolm Butler return to the Patriots?

As Super Bowl XLIX made Malcolm Butler, Super Bowl LII pretty much broke the former New England Patriots cornerback who rose from the anonymity of an undrafted rookie free agent to fame with a game winning interception heard around the world.

So, what happened to Butler after he left the Patriots to sign a five-year, $30 million deal with the Tennessee Titans?

Lost behind the mystery of why Bill Belichick benched him in that Super Bowl LII loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Butler never really lived up to the Pro Bowl hype.  After struggling much of his tenure with the Titans, Butler was released in 2021 and then signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

Surprisingly, Butler retired prior to the 2021 season at just 31 years old. Could he play in 2022?

Well, according to NFL insider Mike Giardi, Butler has been “working out diligently.”  Along with the Cardinals releasing him from the reserve/retire list, the door is very much open for a return and how poetic would it be if Belichick and the Patriots were the team to give him another shot.

With cornerback depth in question this offseason, the Patriots could look at Butler to add some veteran depth and a player familiar with the system.  Of course, this all depends on why Butler was benched in Super Bowl LII.

Both Belichick and Butler have been mum about the benching, so a return to New England could not only mend fences, but perhaps put rest to the speculation of why he was benched.