The Patriots extended a first-round tender to former UDFA Malcolm Butler, meaning any team that signs him straight up would do so at the cost of a first-round pick. It also means that his cap hit for 2017 will be about $4M.
Butler and his camp are reportedly frustrated with the way the Patriots handled his free agency. The days of RFA are coming to an end, as all drafted rookie deals are at their base four years long. So long as the player manages to accrue all four seasons in this time (is on the roster for at least six games on the year), he is an UFA at the end of his contract.