New England Patriots: Is CB Malcolm Butler Starting Caliber?

By Dan Schmelzer | May 20, 2015

With one play, New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler went from no-name undrafted rookie to Super Bowl hero. Butler’s late-game interception sealed the deal for the Patriots as they defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. His incredible instincts to break on that ball and make a play will go down in NFL history, but what kind of impact can Butler make for the Patriots going forward?

The Patriots lost some major players at the cornerback position this off season. Lining Darrelle Revis up to shut down one side of the field in the passing game is a major reason why the Patriots took home the Lombardi Trophy last season. Revis’ impact on the defense was obvious, and losing him in free agency will undoubtedly be felt immediately.

Dec 7, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis (24) defends San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) during the fourth quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

On top of losing Revis, the Patriots let Brandon Browner, Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard go as well. Revis, Browner and Arrington were the Patriots’ top three cornerbacks for a majority of the 2014 season, and while off-the-field issues have held him back, Dennard was a player with some nice upside at the position. Obviously, the Patriots are going to have some fresh faces at corner next season.

Free agent additions Bradley Fletcher and Robert McClain will certainly play a role, as will Logan Ryan and 2015 seventh-round pick Darryl Roberts. Add Butler to that mix, and you have the five players who will probably see the most time at the position for the Patriots next season. Not exactly a group of feared players at the cornerback position.

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If the season started today, Fletcher and Butler would likely be the starters at the position. Fletcher has had some issues throughout his career, but he is mostly a solid player who should at least be a passable option. Despite the big play in the Super Bowl, Butler is the question mark here.

After going undrafted out of Division II West Alabama in the 2014 NFL Draft, the Patriots gave Butler a tryout that eventually ended up being a free agent contract. At 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Butler has decent size for the position, but he lacked the athletic ability that scouts like to see. Butler’s 4.62 40-yard dash and 33.5-inch vertical leap at his Pro Day last season impressed nobody, which caused him to not hear his name throughout the draft.

While his measurables are not the greatest, early in Patriots’ Training Camp last season, Butler showed natural playmaking skills. Butler impressed Bill Belichick and the Patriots’ staff on the practice field, and was one of the stars of the preseason. With his impressive showing, Butler was a surprise inclusion to the Patriots’ opening 53-man roster, a very improbable feat for a player who had to receive a tryout before even getting offered a contract.

Obviously, the Butler move ended up working out well for the Patriots. However, he will be expected to take on a much larger role in 2015. Opposing quarterbacks are likely to look to pick on Butler next season. Despite his huge play in the Super Bowl, Butler simply does not have the measureables that teams normally look for at the CB position, and they will look to exploit that. It is fair to wonder whether he has the speed and athleticism to handle the role of a starting NFL cornerback.

Despite his perceived lack of skills, Butler has shown the ability to hold his own in coverage. While it was mostly in the slot, Butler was actually a nice performer for the Patriots when given an opportunity in the regular season. Also, the Patriots bench Arrington in the first half of the Super Bowl, and replaced him with Butler. The late interception was the cherry on top of what was an extremely impressive performance by the undrafted free agent in the Super Bowl.

It is very hard to predict how Butler will do in a starting role. His lack of skills could certainly hold him back, but he now has big game experience, and his natural ball skills allow him to consistently make plays. I am sure there will be times where Butler gets burnt deep, but I am optimistic about his ability to be at least a league average starter at the cornerback position. The Patriots may need him to be better than that, but he does have some upside as well.

Butler is a very important player for the 2015 Patriots, and his ability on the field is certainly something to watch once Training Camp starts.

Next: Should Patriots Move Devin McCourty Back to CB?

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