Buccaneers 2018 Free Agency Spotlight: Cornerback, Malcolm Butler

The Buccaneers need to upgrade their secondary at some point. With some high caliber names on the market, the Buccaneers could improve immediately. Former Super Bowl hero or villain, Malcolm Butler is slated to hit the market, could he be on the Bucs radar?

The Buccaneers defense was pretty bad last season giving up the most yards per play in the entire league. They also allowed the most pass yards in the league at 4169. While it could be a sign of a lack of pass rush being the worst pass defense in the league is significant enough to improve the secondary. While there were injuries to Brent Grimes and Vernon Hargreaves throughout the season, the rest of the team didn’t step up. One player that could fix their secondary is Malcolm Butler.

Malcolm Butler’s Career

Malcolm Butler is pretty much one of the most well-known cornerbacks in the football league for one play. We all remember the Seattle Seahawks throwing at the goal line at the end of the Super Bowl XLIX and getting picked off by Butler. While it still irritates me that Marshawn Lynch didn’t get the ball still irritates me but that’s another story.

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Malcolm Butler was an undrafted free agent in 2014 out of the University of West Alabama. He was another ridiculously good find for the Patriots scout team. He has grown two inches since his pro-day but he is still under six feet tall, which the Buccaneers have zero of. In his first season with the Patriots, he was listed as the fifth corner on the depth chart, but that didn’t stop him from getting playing time. He recorded fifteen tackles and three pass deflections and had the biggest interception in Super Bowl history. Which Tom Brady rewarded him with the Chevrolet Truck he received for winning MVP.

After that season the Patriots had a lot of turnover to their roster moving Butler to the top of the depth chart where he excelled. Earning Pro-Bowl and Second-team All-Pro nods. This past off-season he was given a first-round tender worth $3.91 million. Butler was demoted after the signing of Stephon Gilmore. but still started fifteen games this season recording 60 tackles, twelve passes defended, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles. He was a more productive corner but was benched in the Super Bowl for reasons that still aren’t fully clear. With the team ultimately moving on from him he’s set to earn his first big payday.

Why the Buccaneers Need Him

It’s pretty obvious that the Buccaneers need as much help as possible in the secondary. With Brent Grimes still contemplating retirement, the Buccaneers are going to need to add players in the secondary this season just for depth. If Grimes retires the Buccaneers are in serious trouble. Vernon Hargreaves showed that he’s still got a ways to go to be an outside corner. He showed that he’s got the skill to cover receivers in the slot but that doesn’t help us against the elite receivers in the NFC South.

The Buccaneers have very few starting caliber corners on the roster and are going to need some if they want to improve from WORST IN THE LEAGUE. While they need both pass rush and secondary help they are going to have to spend money to do so. Any addition they make would make an improvement to their depth.

What Will Butler Cost?

According to spotrac Butler’s mark on history gives him a salary worth around five years for $65 million. Which is $13 million per year. While the market for quality corners has been raising each year Butler could be anywhere from $15 million to $10 million. It will all depend on his agent’s skills. The Patriots don’t usually make mistakes with players and benching him for the biggest game of the year could worry some general managers.

The Patriots always seem to move on from a guy when they are about to hit a decline so it might be safe to stay away. Jason Licht has connections some inside New England and could get as much information on him he wants. The Buccaneers need help but that’s a serious cost for a team with many other positions of need.

"Here’s what James and David think about comments from Jason Licht and Dirk Koetter while at the NFL Scouting Combine."

Will it Happen?

While I really want the Buccaneers to acquire a big name in free agency Malcolm Butler may be one of the most expensive options this year. The team might be able to find other cheaper options out there. They may be targeting some other players that haven’t hit the market yet. With the Buccaneers most expensive off-season coming next year they need to be smart with their money this year.

Unless they think adding Malcolm Butler this year will be worth potentially losing a key piece next year they could go for it. While Butler would be a nice piece to the defense I believe the money could be spent smarter at more positions. Especially if it will cost about the same to

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