Horseshoe Heroes
FanSided

Report: Colts Still Want Darius Butler Back

By Luke Schultheis

Dec 27, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Indianapolis Colts cornerback Darius Butler (20) breaks up a pass intended for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry (14) during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. The Colts won 18-12. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Indianapolis Colts cornerback Darius Butler (20) breaks up a pass intended for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry (14) during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. The Colts won 18-12. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

According to CBS Sports Jason La Canfora, the Indianapolis Colts still want defensive back Darius Butler to re-sign with the team.

The soon-to-be 31 year old veteran is one of the better defensive backs still remaining on the open free agent market:

Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts cornerback Darius Butler (20) during the first half against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts cornerback Darius Butler (20) during the first half against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Last season, the 5’10”, 188 pound defensive back recorded 33 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 3 interceptions in 12 games (7 starts)–having played as both a slot cornerback and safety situationally for the Colts secondary.

The 8-year veteran has expressed a desire to play more safety going forward in the hopes that it will extend his playing career. However, his positional flexibility at either cornerback and safety would help the Colts defense regardless.

While emerging safety Clayton Geathers is safely penciled into one of the starting spots, it’s a fair question as to who will start alongside him. Specifically, veteran starter Mike Adams signed with the Carolina Panthers and rookie safety T.J. Green significantly struggled last season–as the latter remains a bit of a developmental project at the position.

Re-signing Butler would also enable the Colts to deploy Geathers as a hybrid-inside linebacker on obvious passing downs–which proved to very successful last season.

Butler has been a productive player since joining the Colts in 2012, and it makes sense that the team would like to bring him back given his veteran presence and versatility in their secondary.

Home/Colts Free Agency