Talks between the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints surrounding star cornerback Malcolm Butler appear to have cooled considerably, but that does not mean they won’t pick up again closer to the NFL Draft.
One reporter, Albert Breer of The MMQB, expects them to. In an appearance on CSN New England over the weekend, Breer was asked where things stand between Butler and the Patriots.
“I still think there’s a good chance he goes to New Orleans and I think it would be in that one-week window when he comes off of the market (after he signs his tender and before the NFL Draft),” Breer said. “By then, he knows what’s out there and feels comfortable and signs the offer sheet and the Patriots can start talking to teams. At that point, I think the Saints put something in front of the Patriots and we’ll see whether or not they can consummate a deal.”
Breer was then asked if he believes it is more likely that Butler plays for the Saints than the Patriots in 2017.
“Yes,” he said. “I think it’s close, but I still think it’s more likely New Orleans than New England because I think New Orleans is motivated to go and get this player and has a spare first-round pick now from the Brandin Cooks trade.”
Butler is a restricted free agent, so the Saints could sign him to an offer sheet. But if they do that and the Patriots choose not to match, they would have to give up their own first-round pick — No. 11 overall — as compensation. Rather than go that route, New Orleans would prefer to find a way to send back the first-round pick they got from New England — No. 32 overall — in the Cooks trade earlier in the offseason.
With the Patriots having signed Stephon Gilmore to a five-year deal, it’s clear Butler is not going to get the long-term deal he is seeking. However, New England could still choose to keep him for 2017 to pair with Gilmore at a team-friendly salary of around $3.9 million. The Saints will have to convince them not to.
We have also heard rumblings that the Patriots could trade Butler and replace him with an even better All-Pro corner, but it doesn’t sound like that is realistic. At this point, the most likely scenarios are Butler going to New Orleans or remaining in New England for at least one more season.
