Saints Fans: You Want Malcolm Butler

You are a true Black and Gold Fan, a Who Dat through and through. This is why the Malcolm Butler deal SHOULD happen and why you’ll love it as a fan!

The background is the Saints were likely looking to trade WR Brandin Cooks and their 4^th round pick for CB Malcolm Butler and New England’s third round pick. Cooks is at the top of his game right now and it makes sense for the Saints, in need of defensive help, to use one of the very few high value targets they have on the roster (the others being Cam Jordan, Drew Brees, and Mark Ingram – and possibly Kenny Vaccaro) and go out and get a ready-to-play-today defensive back.

Cooks is one of the top 10 receivers in the league right now. He represents value and another target for Patriots QB Tom Brady. On top of that, Cooks has a contract coming up soon. The Saints weren’t likely to pick up the option on Cooks. Even with our salary cap issues getting better annually, you have so many other players that are getting paid and who will need to be paid in the coming years. Michael Thomas will be a star, and you’ll have to think about paying him. Vaccaro’s contract comes up soon and he’ll need to be re-signed. You have decisions to make on Brees.

For the Saints side, Malcolm Butler is more than just a big interception in Super Bowl 49 these days.

In the 2 seasons since then, Butler has been a stalwart on a normally good Patriot defense. He’s been a Pro Bowler and a second team All-Pro. He’s only about to begin his 4^th season of NFL football so he’s got longevity on his side. While we expect P.J. Williams to be back and challenge, the Saints can’t hinge their defense on that maybe. Similarly, Ken Crawly played well at times. But you don’t want to rely on him. B.W. Webb has signed with Chicago, so we are in need of depth. Butler’s measurable are similar to a Saints great we all came to love (and missed when he retired), Jabari Greer. Were Butler to step in and put up numbers like Greer, the Who Dat nation would be quite happy with him.

When the trade couldn’t work out due to the fact that Butler hadn’t signed his tender, it seemed like the hope was gone for landing him.

But in all actuality, the opportunity might be greater since he’s waited until now, the last possible moment to sign his tender. Interest in him has waned, so the number he is to be signed for could be lessened. There are multiple options in play now. The Saints could simply make an offer and then possibly return the Patriot’s first round pick (#32) to them. Or they could be part of a sign and trade. Regardless of how it plays out, the move would benefit the Saints.

As well seeing that the draft is just down the road, this would also be a shot fired right before the draft. Make some waves, make people nervous. It could be a slight tell as far as the Saints draft goes, as CB would be off the first round table. However, shoring up the defense is more important than worrying about what others know about your draft day looks.

Another great reason to have Butler is this will be homecoming for him.

Butler is from Vicksburg, MS. He played high school ball at Vicksburg High, went on to Hinds Community College and West Alabama. Playing for the Saints would bring out a large contingent of his family and local fan base.

Getting Malcolm Butler is a large piece of the Saint’s puzzle success. The Saints’ division is stacked and we need solid players today. We can’t continue to build for a future; we have to win today. Yes the draft is deep and talented, but that means possibly passing on winning today. Carolina went to the Super Bowl last year. Atlanta went this year. Tampa has a solid QB, great receivers and a stout defense and will be a team to be reckoned with this season. The NFC South is where it’s at and the Saints need to get players today to make themselves better immediately! Butler represents getting better today, for this year. And Saints fans should clamor for it and be excited about it happening!