placeholder image

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports


Two ESPN writers envision Malcolm Butler landing with 49ers

Mar 6, 2018 at 1:32 PM--


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
The latest panel for ESPN NFL Insiders asks writers where New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler might land in free agency. Two of the writers predicted he would end up with the San Francisco 49ers. The only other potential destination mentioned multiple times were the Houston Texans -- also with two votes.

ESPN writer Matt Bowen had the following to write about his Butler-to-49ers prediction:

"The Niners have the cap space and a need at cornerback. Butler's technique, tackling and man-coverage skill set would upgrade their secondary and give them a cornerback with the ability to challenge routes outside of the numbers."

Aaron Schatz, who is the editor-in-chief of Football Outsiders, wrote the following:

"The 49ers have cap space and need improvement at cornerback -- both outside and inside. They ranked No. 30 in DVOA on passes to No. 1 receivers last season and No. 32 on passes to slot receivers."

Butler's relationship with the Patriots deteriorated, which was evident by the player's benching in New England's Super Bowl LII loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in February. He played 97.8 percent of the snaps for New England during the regular season and was in for every postseason snap. However, in the Super Bowl, Butler played in just one snap, which was on special teams.

"They gave up on me. [Expletive]. It is what it is," a disappointed Butler told ESPN's Mike Reiss following the Super Bowl.

Following the Super Bowl, 49ers wide receiver Pierre Garçon made an effort to recruit Butler via Twitter. Garçon pointed out that San Francisco has an abundance of cap space and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. He also believes the 49ers have the best receivers in the division -- himself included.

RELATED 49ers are front-runners for cornerback Trumaine Johnson, per report

"Butler should be appealing to corner-needy teams who have a financial structure that can absorb a corner anywhere between the $6 million-per-year-and-up range," wrote Reiss for an ESPN feature on Tuesday morning.

Spotrac.com actually estimates the 28-year-old cornerback's market value to be around $13 million annually, which would currently make him the seventh-highest paid cornerback based on average annual salary.

Butler joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and has won two Super Bowls with the team in his four seasons. Over the past three seasons, he has started all but one game for New England and registered 190 combined tackles, two sacks, 44 passes defensed, and four forced fumbles during that span. Butler's 2015 performance earned him a Pro Bowl selection.

Of course, 49ers fans remember Butler's goal-line interception of the Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson to seal Super Bowl XLIX during his rookie season in 2014. Heading into the game, he was listed as the fifth cornerback on the Patriots' depth chart.

The 49ers are reportedly front-runners for Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson. Another high-profile cornerback, Kyle Fuller of the Chicago Bears, received the transition tag. Of course, that simply allows Chicago to match any offer from a competing team. Should they decide not to, the Bears won't receive compensation for Fuller.

(h/t to Kirk Larrabee of 247 Sports for the find)



Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News


placeholder image

Daniel Jeremiah has 49ers landing pass rusher in latest mock draft

By David Bonilla
Mar 20

With the initial flurry of free agency in the books, respected draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah unveiled his latest mock draft, projecting teams' potential moves in the 2024 NFL Draft. While many fans questioned ESPN analyst Mel Kiper projecting Washington offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten to the 49ers with the No. 31 overall pick, Jeremiah's choice for the Bay Area team may receive a warmer reception. Despite the Niners adding defensive ends via free agency, Jeremiah has San Francisco using their first-round pick to add former Penn State pass rusher Chop


placeholder image

ESPN names 49ers as best fit for Tre'Davious White

By David Bonilla
Mar 20

Following the initial flurry of free agency activity, ESPN's Bill Barnwell took a closer look at the remaining unsigned players, identifying ideal landing spots for each. Among the prospects, cornerback Tre'Davious White found himself connected with the San Francisco 49ers as a prime fit. The Buffalo Bills, who selected White with the No. 27 overall pick in 2017, released the cornerback on March 13. The 49ers would love to bolster the defensive backfield, finding a better option to pair on the outside with Charvarius Ward and allowing Deommodore Lenoir to find a permanent home in the


placeholder image

Who the 49ers selected in ESPN's 7-round mock draft

By David Bonilla
Mar 27

Kudos to anyone who compiles a seven-round mock draft for the entire league. It's an extensive endeavor, and draft analyst Matt Miller recently took on this challenge in a feature for ESPN. He projected 257 selections, with the San Francisco 49ers holding 10. Miller provided explanations for each pick in the first three rounds and shared his favorite selection for the remainder of the draft. So, who does Miller envision joining the 49ers' newest rookie class? Let's delve into his ideal scenario for the Bay Area team in the 2024 NFL Draft. Round 1, Pick 31 Overall Jordan Morgan,


placeholder image

No Huddle Podcast: What Are The 49ers' Plans For The Future?

By Site Staff
Mar 19

(Episode 322) — Al Sacco and Brian Renick react to the Zach Wilson rumors, what the 49ers should look for in QB2, negative Al speaks up, how the offensive side of the ball is complete for now, replacing all of the superstars will be a challenge, why the 49ers need to draft well this year and next, and more. Note: This episode was recorded before news of Josh Dobbs' signing. The audio for the show is embedded above. Remember to subscribe! You can listen to the latest "No Huddle Podcast" episode above, from our dedicated podcast page, on


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone