Malcolm Butler did his part to help a trade along last week when he signed his $3.91 million tender with the Patriots. But there's some work ahead for both the Saints and the Patriots if they're going to agree to terms on a deal that will send the 27-year-old corner to New Orleans.
According to both Peter King of TheMMQB.com and Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, a trade involving Butler and the Saints seems unlikely.
Per King, the Saints are leaning toward keeping their first three picks in this year's draft: No. 11, 32 and 42. Because they believe this year's draft class is loaded with immediate contributors, trading one or more picks for Butler and then paying Butler "is less attractive than it once seemed."
Rapoport tweeted Monday that "at this point, [a] trade appears unlikely from all sides."
The Saints also own picks No. 76 and No. 103 in the first three rounds of this year's draft.