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Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network is reporting that the Titans will release Malcolm Butler:
Source: The #Titans have informed starting CB Malcolm Butler that he’s been released.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2021
This move is not unexpected because of his contract. Butler’s cap number for 2021 was scheduled to be $14.5 million. While Butler was easily the team’s best defensive back in 2020, they just cannot afford to pay him that money. Releasing him saves them just over $10 million in cap money this year.
I was really hoping they would be able to work something out to keep him here. While that is still possible, you very rarely see a guy get cut by a team and then end up re-signing with that team.
Butler certainly had his ups and downs during his tenure with the Titans. He probably had his best year with the team in 2020. This leaves a big hole in the secondary now. They better hope Adoree Jackson comes back 100% and Kristian Fulton is ready to go from the jump. It would also help if we could get Kevin Byard circa-any year before 2020.