Malcolm Butler Wanted to Play for New Orleans

After the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft came and passed without a trade for New England Patriots CB Malcolm Butler and with the New Orleans Saints selecting Ohio State’s Marshon Lattimore to fill their void at CB, it looked like the much-wished-for Malcolm Butler trade just wasn’t in the cards.

While there were many Saints fans who were disappointed a deal couldn’t get done between the Saints and Patriots to bring Butler to New Orleans, it doesn’t sound like they are the only disappointed ones here. Mike Girardi has reported that Malcolm Butler “badly wanted” to come to New Orleans.

Butler is only under contract for one more season with the New England Patriots. If the New Orleans Saints-Malcolm Butler pairing is still mutually desired come the end of the 2017 season, it wouldn’t be a total shock for the New Orleans Saints to bring Butler into the fold without the cost of any draft picks.

He wanted New Orleans. He wanted them badly. They couldn't work out a deal. So what's he supposed to do now? Sit at home? No, you suck it up. You have to turn yourself back into a Patriot at least for a year, and hope. Who knows, maybe you do your work and maybe they say, “Hey, Malcolm, you know what, we can't give you Gilmore money. But maybe we can find something. Maybe we've got $10 or $11 million.”

Maybe that happens, and maybe that’s enough to keep Butler in New England. But may be not.

Butler wanted New Orleans. New Orleans wanted Butler. It’s not going to happen this year, but if they still think it’s a fit next year, don’t be surprised to see Butler make his first visit in free agency to be New Orleans.