The baseline for a Butler extension has been set...

[FreeTedWilliams]

Robert Alford signs four-year extension with Falcons

4 year deal, $38 million total, $21 of that guaranteed.

Alford is a good corner, I think Butler is better and will probably be looking for more money. But Alford was a second round pick.

 

[ALP]

About 10M/yr then

Butler ain't perfect but w the way cap is going 10 ain't bad for a top 5 corner, he just needs to stop the momentary lapses of concentration he has sometimes

 

[Username]

About 10M/yr then

Butler ain't perfect but w the way cap is going 10 ain't bad for a top 5 corner, he just needs to stop the momentary lapses of concentration he has sometimes

He needs to stop being 5'10"...

Other than that he plays the position as well as anyone in the league, in my opinion.

 

[Bradyking12]

Butler, Rowe, Cyrus, could be a three headed monster of a secondary in the near future (Yes I still have big hopes for Cyrus)

 

[TennisBallHead]

Butler, Rowe, Cyrus, could be a three headed monster of a secondary in the near future (Yes I still have big hopes for Cyrus)

I admire your optimism.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Unless MB wants to roll the dice, not hold out and play 2017 that would be a good deal for him not being on the open market.

 

[Flash]

CB2 getting 9.5 per year. Butler will get more for sure and that's why I'm hesitant to say that Bill will extend him.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

About 10M/yr then

...

I also expect he'll command more than $21,000,000 guaranteed as well.

Not bad for an UDFA from the University of West Alabama and Hinds Community College...of course it helps to have made a Top Ten All Time Super Bowl Highlight Reel play (and be damn good at what you do).

And marketable too! For the fun of it I googled "Robert Alford" and "Malcolm Butler."

Robert Alford: 460,000 hits
Malcolm Butler: 13,400,000 hits.

 

[jri37]

As of right now the Patriots have all the leverage. Unless Butler and his agent want to agree to a team friendly deal I suspect the Pats will tender him as a 1st round RFA. At a minimum he plays for roughly 4 million next year or some team comes in and blows him away with a deal and the Pats decide not to match and take the 1st round pick.

 

[RobertWeathers]

As of right now the Patriots have all the leverage. Unless Butler and his agent want to agree to a team friendly deal I suspect the Pats will tender him as a 1st round RFA. At a minimum he plays for roughly 4 million next year or some team comes in and blows him away with a deal and the Pats decide not to match and take the 1st round pick.

This is the key dynamic right there. We know he loves the guy and his play but how highly in regard does BB hold Malcolm Butler's play, whats his ceiling and contractually, what is going on between the two sides? I'd suspect if Malcolm and BB are far apart on $ and will never close the gap then its adios Malcolm for a 1st round pick.

 

[aluminum seats]

And marketable too! For the fun of it I googled "Robert Alford" and "Malcolm Butler."

Robert Alford: 460,000 hits
Malcolm Butler: 13,400,000 hits.

That's weird...did Butler do something notable?

 

[PatsFan2]

Pump the brakes on the First Round pick for Butler who was the last really really Good CB's the Patriots Drafted?? Ty Law many many moons ago...Samuel was decent wasn't great there have been Too many misses and wasted picks since then. I don't like our history of drafting CB's the Pats should try to extend Butler the CB in 2017 and use the Tag on someone else.

 

[jri37]

Pump the brakes on the First Round pick for Butler who was the last really really Good CB's the Patriots Drafted?? Ty Law many many moons ago...Samuel was decent wasn't great there have been Too many misses and wasted picks since then. I don't like our history of drafting CB's the Pats should try to extend Butler the CB in 2017 and use the Tag on someone else.

Not saying they will get a 1st round pick I'm saying they will tender him as a 1st rnd RFA which costs them roughly 4 million if nobody offers to sign him. If somebody does make an offer and the Pats decide not to match they are protected with a 1st round pick. As I said in my earlier post unless Butler decides to take a team friendly deal he is playing for 4 million in NE next year or elsewhere.

 

[mgteich]

Not saying they will get a 1st round pick I'm saying they will tender him as a 1st rnd RFA which costs them roughly 4 million if nobody offers to sign him. If somebody does make an offer and the Pats decide not to match they are protected with a 1st round pick. As I said in my earlier post unless Butler decides to take a team friendly deal he is playing for 4 million in NE next year or elsewhere.

Butler's agent may think that $9M or $10M AAV is a team friendly deal.

I don't see Butler coming to terms with the team before free agency, perhaps in the legal tampering time. Perhaps, someone will give a first for him. I could see someone with a lot of cap money and a mid to low level pick doing that. After all, if you are picking 20th or so, Butler is a bargain.

 

[IllegalContact]

 

[Brandon_Cox]

This Pats fan in Atlanta has watched Alford play almost all of his games and I can tell you with 100% certainty that he isn't in Butler's league. It's not even close. He's at best a number 2 corner. Hell, Malcolm is better than Desmond Trufant although they are somewhat comparable in talent.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I would love to pay Butler that little. Unfortunately I don't think that'll be an option.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

I would love to pay Butler that little. Unfortunately I don't think that'll be an option.

Well....better extend him now before the market line goes up

 

[patfanken]

FIrst of all this is a complete apples to organge thing. Alford was in the final year of his rookie contract. A 2nd pick who in in his 4 season, and canbe a UFA next March. Butler is RFA in his 3rd season (2nd starting). The Pats can tender him with a first round tender of about $3.7MM and still have the opportunity to match any offer. Where the leverage lies is completely opposite.

Here are Butler's issues -

a. His size - He isn't ideally sized, nor is he very big. Teams what to play big money to CB's who can match up with the ever increasing 6'4 WR's coming into the league. You'd liike t think that your top QB will be at least 6'

b. He's a bit older. In fact he's only a year younger than Gronk (26)

c. So at his size and age, ANY slippage in his physical play will be very hard to recover from.

On the plus side

1. He has great quickness and smooth hips

b. He has recovery speed

c. Great leaping ability

d.GREAT tackler

e. pound for pound he could be the hardest hitter on the D

I'd say he's a top 10 CB in this league with at least as many intangible benefits as skill ones. Due to his size, when he starts to loose a bit off his fast ball, I think he will slip fast.

The Pats have 3 choices right now.:

1. The give him a first round tender. Hand him over a 600% raise an put this off for another year and mover on.

2. Try to make a team friendly deal now in the 3 year for $30MM range with a team option for a 4th. Maybe not top dollar, but a 3000% raise and financial security for life.....with a team he totally fits in with.

3. Give him a market deal right aftet the season In the 10-12MM ranger/yr

Personally I THINK they will try #2 and then fall back to #1 and play it out again for another year.

 

[SalemPats]

Top CBs don't go on trees, especially one entering his prime. We will have to pay him