New England Patriots: What Happens If Malcolm Butler Holds Out?
By Matt LaPan
Could the newest star cornerback for the New England Patriots be due for a holdout? Malcolm Butler has missed OTAs recently, so who would replace him if he doesn’t show up?
The New England Patriots find themselves in a potential dilemma very early in the offseason process as starting cornerback Malcolm Butler was not at the team’s voluntary OTA’s. The Pro Bowl corner is entering his third NFL season and is coming off his breakout season.
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That miss becomes more relevant when Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston noted in his weekly column that Butler has told both friends and teammates that he “plans to push for an adjustment to his contract before the 2016 season.” Some are considering this as a potential holdout, although Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reported that a source told him that Butler’s absence had nothing to do with his contract situation.
With the question there, what would happen to the Patriots’ defensive backfield if Butler was to hold out during the 2016 NFL season?
The immediate impact would fall on Logan Ryan. The fourth-year cornerback from Rutgers had an up-and-down season in 2015, but has been a solid piece when he is asked to start. Ryan has 11 interceptions and 30 passes defended in his 48-career games, proving he has good ball skills.
There would be a big worry around whether or not he can handle the rigors of being a number one cornerback, as he has struggled with elite competition in the past.
Across from Ryan is where the big questions would start. The Patriots have eight players that are most likely to be cornerbacks, but there are major questions surrounding all of them as number two corners.
The most likely player to step in if Ryan was elevated would be the Patriots’ second-round pick from the 2016 NFL Draft, Cyrus Jones. The former Alabama starter is already expected to have some role in 2016 – likely as a slot cornerback. Jones could theoretically step in and have a major role in 2016, but is likely not big or strong enough to be a full-time player on the outside. His 5’10” frame is stout, but not necessarily built to withstand the rigors or being an every down player.
A lesser known possibility is Darryl Roberts. The second-year player out of Marshall missed all of 2015 after being placed on injured reserve during the preseason with a wrist injury. Roberts has the size at 6’0″ and 190 pounds, as well as the long arms and quick feet that many look for in an outside cornerback. He was extremely productive during his collegiate career, but playing at Marshall leaves questions around whether or not he could handle NFL receivers.
Roberts would also allow Jones to fill the more natural role of a slot cornerback, leaving the Patriots in the ideal position.
A dark-horse candidate that could step in and fill the role of a second cornerback is free agent acquisition E.J. Biggers. The seven-year NFL veteran has played for Tampa Bay, Washington and, most recently, Philadelphia. He has just four interceptions, but adds 41 passes defended in 92 career games. Biggers has the length and speed to cover some faster receivers.
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The Patriots could also look for major improvements or surprises from their younger players – Cre’von LeBlanc, V’Angelo Bentley, Justin Coleman, Jonathan Jones or Brandon King. This is very unlikely, but so was Butler when he began his career in New England.