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Let's talk about Vernon Butler

hepcat

By hepcat,
in Carolina Panthers

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hepcat Grand Master

hepcat

Posted
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I've seen a lot of people on this board kicking around the notion that Vernon Butler is a bust after two seasons in the NFL. Butler played 225 snaps in 10 games in 2016 and dealt with injuries all season. He played 297 snaps in all 16 games in 2017. That's an average around 33% of the defensive snaps per game. The main reason for that? The presence of Kawaan "the new Big Money" Short. Short played 780 snaps in 2016, and 704 total snaps in 2017. That's an average 75% of the defensive snaps per game in 2017.

Butler turns 24 in June. Short just turned 29 in February. Butler is nearly 5.5 years younger than Short, and is the same age now that Short was his rookie season in 2013, albeit with two seasons of NFL experience. Still on his rookie contract, the Panthers have a solid backup and rotational player in Butler. In 5 years, Butler will be 29 (the same as Short is now), and Short will be 34. There's a strong chance Short won't be on the team anymore in 5 years, since his contract expires in 4 years and is a cap hit of $18m per year, or 9% of the cap space per year until it expires. If Charles "the old Big Money" Johnson is any example, he started declining his age 29 season. 

Butler could still end up being a disruptive player, and the eventual successor to Short, who is surprisingly getting up there in age. I don't get the hate Butler's been getting when he's played limited snaps and playing behind the guy making the 2nd most money on the team. I wouldn't give up on him so fast.

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Adb6368 Proficient

Adb6368

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I don't doubt his ability. I doubt his opportunity to be able to showcase that ability. And a first-round draft pick (save QBs) should have an immediate and tangible impact on games, which Butler has not, and will not, have for quite some time.

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SOJA Veteran

SOJA

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I will admit that some of Gettleman's decisions I once praised, have soured over time and will fully admit I'm not a fan of what he has done with the Giants thus far. 

 

But drafting first round quality defensive lineman is something I will always defend. Championship teams are built around quality defensive lines. 

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TheRed Newbie

TheRed

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He isn't a bust. But if you are completely removing the homer goggles, he needs a stellar season in 2018 to even begin to justify wasting a first rounder for him to ride the bench through his affordable rookie contract years. You could say the same thing about Shaq as well. Luxury picks. There's no way around it.

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TheCasillas Grand Master

TheCasillas

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6 minutes ago, brandon_87 said:

If he was half ways decent, someone would have made an offer for him when they saw he doesn't play. 

How do you know they haven’t? I don’t want opinions, I want facts stating no one has made an offer for butler.

teams don’t trade away interior lineman unless contract is bloated or they don’t fit scheme.

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Saca312 Experienced

Saca312

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2 minutes ago, Panthers8969 said:

we've already talked everyones ears off about how this guy was a wasted pick. No need to discuss further if you're a first round pick and you aren't starting you're 3rd year u busted

How the hell is he supposed to be able to start when he has a top 5 UT ahead of him?

Butler’s great as a rotational piece and helping keep a fresh tough D-line. He’s no bust just because we have a clear top 5 DT playing ahead of him.

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jumpman910 Contributor

jumpman910

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21 minutes ago, brandon_87 said:

If he was half ways decent, someone would have made an offer for him when they saw he doesn't play. 

Panthers aren't trading him for anything but a 1st. So if they value having him over the offered we'd never know. He's great depth and good rotation. Not butlers fault he was drafted as insurance and not able to play over a top 5 DT. 

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frash.exe Apprentice

frash.exe

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16 minutes ago, *FreeFua* said:

Let’s...

Vernon Butler is another Dave Gettleman bust that has now put Hurney into a corner and has forced him to pull off a miracle this weekend. 

we’re already passing blame to gettleman if hurney fails and the draft hasn’t even started yet

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