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Payton: Saints won't sign Patriots' Butler to offer sheet, trade still possible

Al Pereira / Getty Images Sport / Getty

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton said Wednesday his team isn't willing to sign New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler to an offer sheet because they don't want to risk losing the 11th overall pick in this year's draft, according to ESPN's Mike Triplett.

Payton said the Saints are still open to trading for Butler, who's a restricted free agent with a first-round tender.

This means Butler would have to sign the Patriots' tender and then New England and New Orleans would then work out trade compensation.

Butler visited the Saints recently, and the two sides reportedly have the parameters of a deal in place.

However, the Patriots are reportedly unwilling to speak to Butler or the Saints about a deal until the corner signs his $3.9-million tender, which would give New England leverage in negotiations.

If Butler signs his tender but the two teams can't work out a subsequent trade, he'll be contracted to the Patriots for the 2017 season at a bargain price.

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