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NFL Free Agency: Why the 49ers should sign CB Malcolm Butler

By Chandler Wright

FOXBOROUGH, MA - JANUARY 21: Malcolm Butler #21 of the New England Patriots reacts in the fourth quarter during the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on January 21, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA - JANUARY 21: Malcolm Butler #21 of the New England Patriots reacts in the fourth quarter during the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on January 21, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers just signed quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo keeping him from hitting free agency. Let’s take a look at a free agent that would fit the 49ers almost perfectly, cornerback Malcolm Butler.

The San Francisco 49ers are set to hit March’s free-agent period still with considerable cap space. According to spotrac.com, the Niners have roughly $80 million dollars to spend after quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s new contract. As a result, general manager John Lynch may be able to spend big on a couple high-priced free agents.

Who should Lynch target?

Lynch should target New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler.

San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers /

San Francisco 49ers

Butler has been a great player for the Patriots since his Super Bowl XLIX heroics. Butler ranked No. 2 in the top 25 cornerbacks of 2016, according to profootballfocus.com. As a result, PFF had this to say about Butler:

"Outside of [Aqib] Talib, there really hasn’t been a corner that has been consistently “shutdown,” but Malcolm Butler has had a fine season, outside of a couple of lapses. Against Miami back in Week 2, he surrendered 157 receiving yards, and he coughed up another 94 against Pittsburgh; beyond those games, he has given up 35 yards or fewer on six of his eight outings, and over the entire season, has allowed just 52.9 percent of passes into his coverage to be caught, despite occasionally being asked to track elite receivers."

Somehow, the wheels have come off the tracks since just over one year ago.

In 2017 free agency, the Patriots signed former Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore to a five-year, $65 million contract. At that moment, the Patriots basically decided not to pay Butler. This could have resulted in Butler’s 2017 inconsistency. As a starter, Butler finished 2017 with his lowest total tackles, pass-breakups and interceptions. The numbers were similar, but his play dropped off.

So what are the reasons the 49ers should sign a Patriot outcast? If the Pats no longer want Butler, why should the 49ers?

Tom Brady endorsed Malcolm Butler to the rest of the NFL

Don’t take my word for it. Colin Cowherd of Fox Sports promoted the idea on his show, The Herd:

In the video, Cowherd talks about franchises and teams being “run by rich old guys.” The 49ers rich old guy, Lynch, will want to add a player with Butler’s character to his 90-man roster. Head coach Kyle Shanahan will then wan to make a corner of Butler’s caliber part of his 53-man roster.

Why else should the 49ers go after Butler? This one is more obvious.

Current 49ers react to Butler’s benching

Two 49ers have specifically played recruiter for the team in recent days. Wide receiver Pierre Garcon tweeted this in response to Butler’s recent misfortune:

Safety Jaquiski Tartt followed Garcon’s tweet with his own:

These two players did exactly what Cowherd talked about in the above video. They want to win, so they’re recruiting Butler because they believe he can help them do that.

According to Cowherd, NBA superstar Derrick Rose once said, “It’s not my job to call Lebron (James) if he’s a free agent.”

Cowherd responded, “Damn right it is, or do you want to be Derrick Rose? How’s that worked out for you? It is your job, if winning matters.”

Garcon and Tartt proved that winning matters.

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Final Thoughts

On Friday, Garoppolo discussed becoming a free-agent recruiter. Here is what Garoppolo’s thoughts are on the subject.

“Yeah. That’s kind of how this thing goes,” Garoppolo answered on the Gary & Larry Show on KNBR 680. “Guys reaching out to guys more than coaches and executives really. Just in the last 48 hours, to be honest, I’ve had texts, I’ve had messages from guys, and they’re excited about it. It’s a place that — why wouldn’t you want to be here? It’s gorgeous outside year-round. We’re a young, upcoming team, and we’ve got a phenomenal coaching staff.

“It’s an exciting time out here in the Bay Area. Hopefully, a lot of guys want to experience that too.”

Normally, team brass may not listen to players requests for free-agent signees. Maybe sometimes they do, and others they don’t. With three good recruiters, the 49ers may just have a good haul during the 2018 offseason.

Next: San Francisco 49ers: Possible trade-up, trade-down targets for the NFL Draft

Prediction: Lynch, Shanahan and the 49ers sign Butler to a four-year, $50 million dollar deal that averages $12.5 million annually, which would put Butler around the bottom of the top 10 highest-paid corners in the NFL.

Another contract that works for both sides.

Butler receives his pay day, while the Niners grab a starter at a desperate position of need that comes in heavily recruited by some of the team’s best and brightest players.