FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler has joined the team this week in the voluntary offseason program, sources tell ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates.
Butler's presence is an indication that he is fully committed to the Patriots for 2017 despite the sides not reaching a long-term contract extension, and the Patriots signing free-agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore to a top-of-the-market five-year, $65 million contract.
Butler was a restricted free agent this offseason and drew interest from the New Orleans Saints, who hosted him on a visit. But the Saints elected not to sign Butler to an offer sheet, in which they would have had to surrender a first-round draft choice (No.