There’s a slightly better chance cornerback Malcolm Butler will be a member of the Saints than the Patriots in 2017, says Albert Breer of The MMQB (video link). If New England does trade Butler, it could happen during the week leading up to the draft, notes Breer. Butler, a restricted free agent, is facing an April 21 deadline to sign an offer sheet with someone. Once that passes, he won’t be allowed to negotiate a contract with anyone other than the Patriots. While the Saints have discussed a contract with Butler, they aren’t going to tender him an offer sheet because they’d risk losing the 11th pick in the draft. But the Saints also own the 32nd choice, which they acquired from the Pats in the Brandin Cooks trade, and could send that back to them in a Butler deal.
More from New England and a couple other NFL destinations:
- With Butler potentially on the way out, the Patriots hosted Florida corner Teez Tabor on Monday, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Tabor is among the draft’s 50 best prospects in the estimation of NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, though both an underwhelming 40-yard dash and subpar interviews at the combine could cause him to slide.
- Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer visited the Cardinals on Monday, according to Rapoport (via Twitter). Kizer may be a possibility at No. 13 overall for Arizona, which needs to find an heir apparent to the 37-year-old Carson Palmer.
- Trevor Siemian will reportedly enter the Broncos’ forthcoming quarterback competition with an edge over Paxton Lynch, but head coach Vance Joseph insists he’ll give each a “50-50” shot. “It’s going to go down to the wire, I hope,” he added (Twitter link via Mike Klis of 9News).
- Monday roundup: Marshawn Lynch is interested in joining New England; LSU running back Leonard Fournette might go higher in the draft than expected; and Buffalo and Philadelphia added veteran signal-callers.
I think the pats would be stupid to trade Butler! Having him and Gilmore in the same defensive backfield at the same time would make the pats on of the best tandems in the NFL
Tabor was not the only prospect the pats hosted.
I wish the Pats would stay away from the Florida guys. They haven’t panned out for them over the years. Guys like Gus Scott, Jermaine Cunningham, Brandon Spikes, Chad Jackson, Jeremy Mincey. Florida is a good school, and have had great teams and players, but they never play well in NE. Maybe it’s the weather, I don’t know.
The one guy who did play well was from Connecticut and sadly he was certifiable.
you didn’t even mention Dominique Easley or, of course. Aaron Hernandez
I did forget Easley. That guy from Connecticut………..that’s Hernandez. I didn’t forget. I was hoping to not have to type his name. He’s a waste.