Report: Malcolm Butler ‘badly’ wanted to play for Saints

With the NFL Draft having come and gone, Malcolm Butler is all but certain to be stuck in New England for at least another season. While it doesn’t appear the star cornerback has any plans to hold out, it’s clear things have not gone to plan for him in the past month or so.

Butler reported to the Patriots’ offseason program this week, but Mike Giardi of CSNNE.com reports that the 27-year-old “badly” wanted to be traded.

“He wanted to be traded,” Giardi said Thursday. “He knew what the money was in New Orleans. So when we talk about him, ‘Oh he’s happy. It’s nice that he’s joined his teammates again.’ He had no other choice.

“He wanted New Orleans. He wanted them badly. They couldn’t work out a deal. So what’s he supposed to do now? Sit at home? No, you suck it up. You have to turn yourself back into a Patriot at least for a year, and hope. Who knows, maybe you do your work and maybe they say, ‘Hey, Malcolm, you know what, we can’t give you (Stephon) Gilmore money. But maybe we can find something. Maybe we’ve got $10 or $11 million.”

The Patriots have never dedicated a ton of money to the cornerback position, which is why it was such a surprise that they gave Gilmore $13 million per year. The chances of them paying two No. 1 cornerbacks are extremely slim.

For now, Butler must play under the restricted free agent tender and earn $3.9 million in 2017. He could sulk and have a down year, but that would only hurt him when he hits free agency next March. The Saints could still be a possibility, especially when you see what some of the reasons were for the talks breaking off. It’s in Butler’s best interest to just be patient.