After letting star cornerback J.C. Jackson get away in free agency and join the Los Angeles Chargers, the New England Patriots are in need of a cornerback. Jackson was a huge piece of their team and the void he left will be very tough to fill. They have partially addressed the problem by finding another veteran who can temporarily step in.
According to the Boston Globe's Ben Volin, the Patriots are bringing back cornerback/Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler to add more depth in their secondary. The deal is worth up to $9 million, per Mark Daniels of the Providence Journal.
Spoke to a league source earlier this week who said Butler's 2020 tape was solid. "Twitchy. Good quickness. Good ball skills. Good instincts."
Spent a year away from the game, but the Patriots had him into the building and clearly feel he can help them. https://t.co/eMk8GWA8xI
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) March 23, 2022
Butler is not good enough to cover for the absence of Jackson but he brings some familiarity to a strong defensive team and adds some depth. He spent four seasons with the Patriots as a starter and made the Pro Bowl in 2015.
Although Butler is known for his incredible play in Super Bowl 49 against the Seattle Seahawks, he was also benched in Super Bowl 52, which led to him leaving the Patriots for the Tennesee Titans. He played there for three years, the last of which coming in 2020. The 32-year-old stepped away from football last season so he will definitely be rusty to begin the season.
So far, the Patriots have reshuffled their defense by trading for Mack Wilson. In addition to parting with Jackson, they have also parted ways with Kyle Van Noy, which opened up cap space. They have more work to do than bringing back a former star in order to capitalize on their return to the playoffs.
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