The NFL Draft has come and gone, and Malcolm Butler remains a member of the New England Patriots. That likely means the star cornerback is going to have to play out the 2017 season under his restricted free agent tender, and it does not appear he is going to make much of a fuss about that.
ESPN’s Field Yates reports that Butler showed up to the Patriots’ offseason program on Wednesday.
As the Patriots got back to their workout program this week, Malcolm Butler joined the team. He was not participating in them before draft.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 3, 2017
Butler had stayed away from voluntary workouts before the draft, which is when he was negotiating with other teams and the Patriots were reportedly talking trade with the New Orleans Saints. However, the Saints instead chose to keep their picks and use them to address their defensive needs.
The fact of the matter is Butler has had no leverage all along, which is almost always the case with restricted free agents. No team was willing to sign him to an offer sheet and risk having to give up a first-round pick, especially when the 27-year-old is all but certain to hit the free agent market next offseason.
Butler is now set to make $3.9 million with the Patriots in 2017, and he will likely play opposite newly-signed Stephon Gilmore. Even if he has been bothered by trade rumors this offseason, Butler will likely help make up one of the best secondaries in football this upcoming season.
