According to ESPN, Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler has signed his restricted free agent tender.
The former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl hero is now under contract for 2017 at a salary of $3.91 million.
But, the signing also, as ESPN alluded to, opens the door for a potential Butler trade. The cornerback visited the Saints earlier this offseason and New Orleans has made it quite clear it still has interest in the fourth-year cover man.
Butler's name was first reported in trade talks revolving around wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who went from New Orleans to New England in a deal for draft picks in early March. That deal saw the Patriots send their first-round pick, No. 32 overall, to the Saints. Speculation has pondered the possibility of that selection returning to Bill Belichick's team in a potential Butler deal.
In his three seasons since arriving in Foxborough as an undrafted rookie on a tryout out of West Alabama, Butler evolved into New England's No. 1 cornerback. He started all 16 games each of the last two years.
But the addition of free agent Stephon Gilmore from the Bills this spring on a $60 million contract altered the landscape in the back end of the New England defense and the hierarchy of the cornerback position.
Asked earlier on Tuesday about the possibility of a Butler trade, specifically if the Saints came calling, Patriots Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio responded in a rather general fashion.
"Our focus and goal is to put together the best team possible and however we're going to improve our team, whatever players we think are going to help our team for the 2017 season, then that's what we're going to do," Caserio said.
He also was asked if the team expected Butler to be in New England for the 2017 season.
Check out the best photos of Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler from the 2016 NFL season.
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 11, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) intercepts a pass in the end zone intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) during the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Jared Wickerham)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) breaks up a pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) during the first half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler and cornerback Logan Ryan (26) break up a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd during an NFL football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, oct. 16, 2016. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) celebrates during an NFL football game between the New England Patriots and the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, September 11, 2016, in Glendale, AZ. (Tom Hauck via AP)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) looks over the offensive line during the NFL AFC Championship football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Steelers 36-17. (Jim Mahoney via AP)
NewEngland Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) sets for play against Houston Texans Jan. 14, 2017 during an NFL football conference playoff game in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 34 - 16. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) celebrates during to an NFL AFC divisional playoff football game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 34-16. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017, in Miami Gardens, Fla. New England won 35-14. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) intercepts a pass intended for New York Jets wide receiver Charone Peake (17) during the second half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) celebrates an interception in action against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday December 4, 2016 in Foxboro, Mass (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler in action against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, in Santa Clara, CA. The Pats won 30-17. (Daniel Gluskoter/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) in coverage during to an NFL AFC divisional playoff football game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 34-16. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) reacts during an NFL Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. New England won Super Bowl LI 34-28 in overtime. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler (21) celebrates during an NFL Super Bowl 51 football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston, TX. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28 in overtime. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
"Right now we're focused on getting ready for the draft. That's where the focus is. I don't anticipate that many transactions here between now and next Thursday or Friday," Caserio said. "Could that change? I mean, look, it's the National Football League. Things can change in a heartbeat. So our focus is on getting ready for the draft and trying to put together the best team possible. [There's] a long way to go. Where we are today is probably going to be a lot different than where we are in September or whenever we play, like whoever that is. [There's] a long way to go, a lot of work to do but right now the focus is on getting ready for next week and doing the best job that we can with that opportunity."
For now, Butler is under contract and on paper gives the Patriots one of the better cornerback tandems in the NFL. And New England doesn't have a pick higher than No. 72 overall in next week's draft.
For now.
