5 worst free-agent signings in Arizona Cardinals history
By Sion Fawkes
Malcolm Butler – CB (2021)
The Cardinals needed a stopgap to replace Patrick Peterson in 2021, so they went out and signed the solid Malcolm Butler. Most fans know Butler for his interception in Super Bowl XLIX, which secured the victory for his New England Patriots. He went on to appear in a Pro Bowl and he even snagged a Second-Team All-Pro honor.
Butler then signed with the Titans and played well before landing with the Cardinals, with the team hoping to pair him with Byron Murphy and a returning Robert Alford. Butler played during the preseason and looked like a good fit, but he retired before the regular season.
Following Butler’s retirement, the Cardinals faced a revolving door of corners other than Murphy. Alford was solid for most of the year, but then-rookie Marco Wilson struggled until going down with a shoulder injury.
In the year preceding his retirement, Butler logged career highs in combined tackles, and he tied a career-high with four interceptions. He also recorded 14 pass deflections.