The bottom line in the Malcolm Butler situation: "All signs are pointing to him coming back to the Patriots this year and just playing for that [$3.9 million tender offer] and [then] going to unrestricted free agency (after next season)."
THE MALCOLM BUTLER SAGA
- Texans reportedly interested in trading for Butler
- Report: Butler to visit Saints on Thursday
- Curran: Here's an easy solution for Butler
- Cap guru Miguel Benzan discusses what would be a 'fair deal'
- Mayo: What they say in the locker room is 'don't count the other man's money'
That's what Ben Volin of the Boston Globe told Gary Tanguay and Kirk Minihane Monday night on Arbella's Early Edition.
And the reason? As a restricted free agent, Butler's going to force whatever team that signs him, or trades for him, to give up a first-round draft choice. And it's highly unlikely teams would do that and then also give him the huge contract he's seeking.
"The problem that Malcolm Butler is running into is that he's worth either a contract or a first-round pick," said Volin. "It's a lot to ask a team to give up both. Whether it's someone signing him as a restricted free agent, or whether he tries to set up a trade, the Patriots are going to want a first-round pick in return. They're not going to settle for anything less.
"He's going to run into a brick wall trying to get a big contract and a trade. He could get the trade, but then he might not get the big contract from the other team. And then what's the point?"
New England Patriots
And if you think something can be worked out the Patriots . . . well, that's highly unlikely now that they're paying Stephon Gilmore $14 million a year.
"They're not going to pay two cornerbacks that much money, " Volin stated flatly, later adding: "It's outside their economics to pay two cornerbacks."