By Ty Anderson, 985TheSportsHub.com
With less than a week to go before the start of the 2020 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots and defensive lineman Adam Butler took care of some business on Friday by way of Butler’s signing of his restricted free agent tender.
Tendered at a second-round level this offseason, Butler’s tender for 2020 is worth $3.26 million.
The 26-year-old’s payday comes after a breakout 2019 season that included career-highs in tackles (26), tackles for a loss (eight), sacks (six), and passes defended (five) in 16 games, including two starts. The 6-foot-5 lineman also played in 46.92 percent of the Patriots’ defensive snaps in 2019, which ranked as the 14th-most on the New England defense.
Butler, who originally signed with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2017, has played in 48 regular-season games with eight starts and has totaled 62 tackles, 11 sacks, and one forced fumble in his three-year career with New England.