FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- With cornerback Malcolm Butler intending to join the Tennessee Titans on a five-year, $61 million contract with $30 million in bonuses/guarantees, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, there are a few trickle-down effects from the decision:
1. A contract at that level will position the New England Patriots for a possible high compensatory draft choice in 2019. If it ends up being a third-rounder, which is the highest possible, that will be an important chip for them to preserve in their decision-making process this offseason (the compensatory formula is complex and takes into account the net loss of compensatory free agents, among other things).