Malcolm Butler is finally free. The Tennessee Titans came to terms with the former Patriots cornerback Tuesday with a five-year, $61 million deal with $30 million guaranteed.
Malcolm Butler and the Titans needed each other
Butler was always going to land in a new home. But there might not have been a better one than Nashville.
Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
Butler was one of the biggest storylines to come out of Super Bowl 52. He was benched for the Super Bowl after starting all 16 games for the Patriots and their two previous postseason games. After the Patriots lost to the Eagles, the benching only became a bigger story.
We still don’t have a true reason why coach Bill Belichick made the change, but with Butler set to be a free agent this offseason anyway, both sides had no other choice but to move on. Butler’s got a new home now — and it’s a good fit for him, as well as for the Titans.
It’s a much-needed fresh start for Butler.
Sure — this is incredibly obvious. But it’s inconceivable that even if Butler and the Patriots made up, that he would be able to operate in Foxborough.
After his benching, many current and former teammates publicly showed support for him, before he ultimately released a statement that was essentially a goodbye. He thanked the Kraft family and his coaches, while not committing to a future with the team.
A change of scenery is almost always a good thing, whether that’s in football or other walks of life. He’s getting a much-needed one in a place where he can succeed at a high level.
He gets to learn from Kerry Coombs.
One of the best hires that new head coach Mike Vrabel made for his staff was Coombs. Coombs was Ohio State’s defensive backs coach from 2012 through this past season, and he has helped develop plenty of NFL-caliber talents.
Some of Coombs’ products include:
Bradley Roby. Roby has been part of Denver’s No Fly Zone since 2014, and despite playing in every game of his career, he will take over as a starter for Aqib Talib this year. Roby has two pick-sixes and five forced fumbles to his name. Baller.
Vonn Bell. Bell has been a part of a resurgent Saints defense. He’s forced two fumbles in both of his NFL seasons and has 5.5 sacks. He recorded 4.5 sacks last year alone, which was tied for second on the team. You gotta be pretty damn good to help turn that mess around.
Eli Apple. Apple was a top-10 pick in 2016, but he has fallen on some hard times. With a new coaching staff, he’s got the chance for a fresh start. He’ll be entering his third year in the league next season with the Giants, and still has plenty of promise.
Gareon Conley. Conley was a first-round pick by the Raiders in 2017, but only played in two games and was placed on IR in November. Jon Gruden said the Raiders would be counting on him in 2018, which isn’t surprising. “Everybody liked Conley at Ohio State,” Gruden said during the NFL Combine. “We’re really excited to start working with him.”
Malik Hooker. He could end up being the best of Coombs’ crop. He’s got a nose for the football just like Ed Reed. Before his season-ending injury, he had three interceptions in six games for the Colts. Get excited for his return, Indy.
Marshon Lattimore. Pro Bowler as a rookie. Defensive Rookie of the Year. Boss.
Most of those players lacked experience and dealt with injuries, but Coombs was still able to quickly groom them into NFL prospects — all but Bell, who went in the second round, were first-rounders. Denzel Ward is going to be the next player on this list. SB Nation’s Dan Kadar has him going 14th overall to the Packers in his latest mock draft.
If Butler really is in any kind of a rut, Coombs is the guy to get him out of it.
He has already proven to be a good cornerback.
Butler went from a nobody, to a Super Bowl hero, to a Pro Bowl cornerback. He started all but one of the Patriots’ regular-season games since 2015. He’s had at least two interceptions in those seasons, and had a combined four forced fumbles. He doesn’t do that unless he can play, and at a high level.
People might still be wondering if he’s good because he was benched in the Super Bowl, but Butler can still play. Music City Miracles provides some more context over just how effective he’s been since one of the most famous plays in Super Bowl history:
He’s been a full-time starter for the Patriots in each of the three seasons since. Over that time he has accumulated PFF grades of 83.2, 88.1, and 79.2. That 88.1 grade in 2016 was top five among corners. He’s also racked up 43 passes defensed and eight interceptions since 2015 good for ninth and 13th in the NFL among corners. No matter how you slice it, Butler is somewhere between a very good starting corner and an elite shutdown type corner.
The money might make some balk, but the contract the Titans gave him reflects what the Patriots were offering him while he was still in their good graces:
The Titans really needed a cornerback.
Simply put, the Titans’ pass defense was one of the worst in the NFL last season in terms of yards given up, as well as touchdowns. Adding Butler will give them the other strong cornerback they needed for relief.
But now have a trio of corners in Butler, Adoree’ Jackson, and Logan Ryan. Along with Johnathan Cyprien and All-Pro Kevin Byard, the Titans have turned things around quickly. At least that’s how it appears on paper.
Butler brings experience, and allows Ryan to move to the slot, which is a better fit for him. The intensity Butler brings will also go great with the fiery and young (for a head coach) Vrabel, and could push younger guys on the team.
Music City Miracles provides a glimpse at the changes they’ve made in just over a couple of years:
2016 Titans Opening Day Starting Secondary: Jason McCourty, Perrish Cox, Brice McCain, Rashad Johnson, Da’Norris Searcy
2018 Projected Titans Opening Day Secondary: Malcolm Butler, Adoree Jackson, Logan Ryan, Kevin Byard, Johnathan Cyprien
The Titans should be happy with their pickup. Going into the 2018 season, Butler is to be a storyline worth following in what has already been a rollercoaster of a career.
See More:
