Field Yates of ESPN reports that Patriots CB Malcolm Butler has signed restricted free agent tender.
It was clear that the Saints or any other team weren’t going to sign Butler to an offer sheet after the Patriots used a first-round tender on him a few months ago.
The tender will cost the Patriots $3.91 million for the 2017 season and would have netted them a first-round pick had he received an offer sheet from another team and they elect to pass on matching it.
By signing his tender, it opens the door for a potential trade with the Saints leading up to the draft, so this figures to be a popular topic in the coming days.
Butler, 27, wound up signing on with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of West Alabama back in 2014. He played out the final year of his rookie contract.
In 2016, Butler appeared in all 16 games for the Patriots and recorded 63 tackles, one sack, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and 17 pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 7 cornerback out of 112 qualifying players.
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