The Raiders like Paul Butler. But perhaps they don’t like-like him. Today the team announced they had signed Butler which makes the sixth time they have signed the former undrafted free agent tight end in three years.
Here is his transaction record:
May 7, 2018 — Signed as undrafted free agent out of California (PA)
Sept 1, 2018 — Waived in final 53-man roster cutdown
Sept 2, 2018 — Re-signed to practice squad
Dec 24, 2018 — Signed to active roster from practice squad
Aug 31, 2019 — Waived/injured in final 53-man roster cutdown
Dec 11, 2019 — Signed to practice squad
Dec 31, 2019 — DET Signed to reserve/future contract
Apr 15, 2020 — DET Waived
Apr 16, 2020 — Claimed off waivers from Lions
May 5, 2020 — Waived
May 28, 2020 — Re-signed
Whew. That’s good work if you can get it. Although I’m sure he’d rather just stick on the roster. In all that time, he has never appeared in a regular-season game or even been active on game day.
Butler replaced free-agent addition Nick O’Leary who was placed on the Non-football injury list.
Whether it was O’Leary or Butler, they will have a hard time breaking onto the roster. Darren Waller has the top spot locked down. Then there’s second-year former fourth-rounder Foster Moreau. And they added veteran All-Pro Jason Witten to the mix.
Derek Carrier is ahead of Butler as the next man up receiving option should an injury occur to Waller or Witten. But, hey, all Butler can do is keep getting a shot and hope at some point he can parlay it into an NFL career.
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