Malcolm Butler should still be on Saints' radar (IMO) (1 Viewer)

[St. Geezy]

In my opinion, this team is much closer that most think. Like almost any potential contender though, you can't just rely on luck; every once in a while, you need to make a move that you feel can put your team over the top.

In my opinion, acquiring Malcolm Butler, one of the league's highest rated corners over the past couple of years, is that move.

If we got Butler, all of a sudden, we have one of it not the best trio of cornerbacks in football. We'd be full proof, and we'd also be protected from injuries at the position, arguably boasting one of the deepest units in the NFL altogether in one of the league's most offensively talent-rich divisions.

Both of our projected starting cornerbacks, Delvin Breaux and Marshon Lattimore, while it wouldn't be fair to label them as "injury prone," are both guys that haven't exactly been the most durable. Our projected third corner, P.J. Williams, is another guy that has yet to show he can remain healthy.

I say send the Patriots next year's first in exchange for their second and Butler and don't look back (approximate value of a first round pick according to the chart). You gotta take a gamble every now and then and I really think getting Butler suddenly makes N.O. a very potent defense.

We have two starting cornerbacks being paid right now essentially like decent veteran nickel backs, so we can afford to splurge a little at the position. I know right now we are right up against the cap, when you factor in the rookie pool, but there are always ways to make room and/or structure big deals to have a minimal early cap hit.

I say go for it. Our window is closing.

 

[Icon]

i wouldnt be against having the guy on our team, but it's probably time to go ahead and let this go.

 

[Meachemdat]

Depends on what they think their needs will be next off-season. They addressed corner and if we take the rest of the cap into next year, we will have some coin to spend on an area of need.

We have to re-sign Brees. You've got guys like Kam Chancellor, Trumaine Johnson and even Jimmy Graham on the market in 2018.

 

[Swampy Saint]

IF we stay healthy, we should be loaded at CB and safety.

Malcolm would be a nice addition, but I think we're okay IF healthy.

 

[St. Geezy]

IF we stay healthy, we should be loaded at CB and safety.

Malcolm would be a nice addition, but I think we're okay IF healthy.

Here's what I am talking about. Why settle for "I think we're okay if healthy." Why not go for the jugular and try to become dominant there?

 

[amused]

I don't see any particular value for doing it now versus , say midway through camp if it was actually looking like a need .

 

[Eman5805]

I don't see any particular value for doing it now versus , say midway through camp if it was actually looking like a need .

It's better to have new players here as soon as possible to build chemistry and have as much time as possible to learn the schemes and terminology.

I think a trade is possible, but we're probably straight for now. There's always next offseason.

 

[TribuneUK]

You can't build a team based on acquiring and paying one more starter than you need 'just in case of injury'. The salary cap and market forces don't make this feasible.

The mantra of the NFL is 'next man up' for a reason. You have to develop depth at the right price, not buy more starters who are ultimately overpriced backups.

This is also my reply to all those threads saying we don't have enough WR 'because of possible injuries'.

 

[insidejob]

Gil Brandt was saying right after the draft that this deal isn't dead even with the drafting of Lattimore.

The more time that passes, the less likely I think it is to happen. If he isn't traded for by the start of camp, I wouldn't think it would happen. Unless, of course, we start watching corners drop like flies again. I'd much rather Butler than another BW Webb type signing off the street (not a knock on Webb at all - he came in here and did a damn good job for someone who was selling cars or something when the season started.) if it happens again so early in camp/the season.

 

[sammymvpknight]

Gil Brandt was saying right after the draft that this deal isn't dead even with the drafting of Lattimore.

The more time that passes, the less likely I think it is to happen. If he isn't traded for by the start of camp, I wouldn't think it would happen. Unless, of course, we start watching corners drop like flies again. I'd much rather Butler than another BW Webb type signing off the street (not a knock on Webb at all - he came in here and did a damn good job for someone who was selling cars or something when the season started.) if it happens again so early in camp/the season.

If Breaux or Lattimore get injured before preseason...I can see it happening. If not...we'll see what happens when he becomes a FA next offseason.

 

[St. Geezy]

You can't build a team based on acquiring and paying one more starter than you need 'just in case of injury'. The salary cap and market forces don't make this feasible.

The mantra of the NFL is 'next man up' for a reason. You have to develop depth at the right price, not buy more starters who are ultimately overpriced backups.

This is also my reply to all those threads saying we don't have enough WR 'because of possible injuries'.

You wouldn't do it in case of injury. A third corner in today's game is essentially a starter.

Sorry for suggesting that we load up on a position that's always been a problem for us this entire millennium outside of 2 or 3 seasons. It can argued that solidity at this single position has been the difference between our good teams and mediocre teams over the past decade. When we are strong and deep at corner, we win.

 

[St.Dan]

Gil Brandt was saying right after the draft that this deal isn't dead even with the drafting of Lattimore.

The more time that passes, the less likely I think it is to happen. If he isn't traded for by the start of camp, I wouldn't think it would happen. Unless, of course, we start watching corners drop like flies again. I'd much rather Butler than another BW Webb type signing off the street (not a knock on Webb at all - he came in here and did a damn good job for someone who was selling cars or something when the season started.) if it happens again so early in camp/the season.

I could have picked any number of posts to quote here, but I picked this one to say injuries would be the only way this becomes a reality at this point. My bet would've been lost; I truly thought it was happening. Apparently, the Cheatriots became quite paranoid over their dearth of selections this year and wanted too much for him.

Next year, he's an unrestricted free agent and, if the reports out of Boston after the draft were accurate, he wants out anyway and we can have him for nothing if he truly wants to be here.

 

[Doug B]

Butler would be great to have. The problem is that his rights are owned by New England ... and they want a team to overpay for Butler's rights. If the #42 pick in this year's draft wasn't enough, there's no common ground on which to negotiate.

The 2018 #1 pick is too high a price for someone they are going to lose next offseason. IOW, the Patriots aren't truly interested in trading Butler. They're motivated to get a windfall draft-pick overpayment, yes ... but not motivated to move the player.

 

[duckjr78]

You can't build a team based on acquiring and paying one more starter than you need 'just in case of injury'. The salary cap and market forces don't make this feasible.

The mantra of the NFL is 'next man up' for a reason. You have to develop depth at the right price, not buy more starters who are ultimately overpriced backups.

This is also my reply to all those threads saying we don't have enough WR 'because of possible injuries'.

Great post.

All you can really do is draft well, sign good FA's, and good UDFA's. Then coach them up.

Someone will get injured and you have no idea whom it will be. It is completely impossible to have an EXTRA, high-level, NFL starting caliber talent available at every position, just in case something happens.

Granted, I have black and gold glasses on, but IMHO, the Saints are as insulated from injury as any team could reasonably be, save for the WDE spot. At that spot, we have plenty of players, or depth if you will, just not an elite starter.

There is upper tier talent at virtually every level and every spot on the team. I would love for them to grab one more guy before opening day, but I would much rather it be a 3rd down pass rusher for hire type on a one year deal than trade away a pick for a guy they could get next year in free agency, if they even want him by then.

 

[texasjefe]

I think the Saints conceptually started out thinking they would just trade Cooks for Butler, but Butler's un-signed tender which became a first round tender convoluted the deal too much.

I would not want to see the Saints surrender any more 2018 draft picks, and I would not want the Saints to have to pay Malcolm Butler on his next contract, which would be more cap hit than value.

The Saints have added a motherlode of talent this offseason, and done so with financial pragmatism. Assets they surrendered were Cooks and a #2 pick in 2018. On the flipside, they won't have to pay Cooks his next contract.

We know Mickey and Jeff will hunt for talent every day of the year for starters and quality depth, but for the rest of the offseason, it's really up to the coaches to choose their 53, build chemistry, and get the team in position to make the playoffs and be able to compete in every stadium they're in regardless.