The Carolina Panthers have declined Vernon Butler's fifth-year option, according to Mike Garafolo of Good Morning Football. Friday is the last day that teams can accept or decline the option, but most teams have already made their decision.
The #Panthers won’t pick up DT Vernon Butler’s fifth-year potion today, source says. The 30th pick in 2016 will be a free agent next spring.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) May 2, 2019
Butler was the 30th pick in the 2016 draft, but has been less than impressive in his time with Carolina. He hasn't been used a ton and there have been no hints that the team is planning on using him anymore this upcoming season.
The Charlotte Observer did an article about the 10 worst draft picks in Panthers history, and he came in tied for 10th place on their list. Below is an excerpt about why they feel he is one of the worst picks in team history.
Carolina entered the 2016 NFL Draft fresh off a 15-1 season and Super Bowl appearance — with “Philly” Brown and Ted Ginn, Jr. as its starting wide receivers. But instead on using its No. 30 pick on Sterling Shepard (No. 40) or Michael Thomas (No. 47), Carolina drafted Butler, who has the second-lowest career average value of any 2016 first-round pick, per Pro Football Reference.
Butler, who hasn’t played more than 37.5% of the team’s defensive snaps, still has time to remove himself from this list. But while the Panthers decide whether or not they’ll allow him to do so in Carolina, they will get a twice-a-year reminder of what they passed on for the foreseeable future, thanks to Thomas and the division rival New Orleans Saints.
There is still time for Butler to carve himself a role on the team and the Panthers could still decide to re-sign him, but it appears chances for that are also low.
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