Adam Butler was signed by the New England Patriots as a rookie free agent on May 5, 2017.

​CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Adam Butler was signed by the New England Patriots as a rookie free agent on May 5, 2017.

SEASONAL REVIEWS

2017 (16/6, 3/0)

• Played in all 16 regular-season games with six starts and totaled 19 tackles and two sacks.
• Appeared as a reserve in all three postseason contests and posted three tackles and two sacks.
• Made his first career start at defensive tackle in the win at New Orleans (9/17). Did not accrue any statistics.
• Appeared in a reserve role along the defensive line vs. Atlanta (10/22) and contributed with three total tackles, while also adding the first sack of his career for a 10-yard loss on a second-down play to set up a third-and-long.
• Appeared in a reserve role on the defensive line and finished with two tackles and one sack for a 10-yard loss on a third-quarter third down to force a punt at Miami (12/11).
• Contributed as a reserve defensive lineman and made one tackle and notched his first-career postseason sack for a 5-yard loss to force a punt in the third quarter of the Divisional Playoff victory vs. Tennessee (1/13).
• Appeared as a reserve defensive lineman and recorded one tackle and his second sack of the postseason to force a second-quarter punt in the AFC Championship victory vs. Jacksonville (1/21).

COLLEGE

• Played in 49 games with 36 starts and registered 109 tackles, 9.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and five passes defensed.
• Also blocked two extra points while playing special teams.
• Led the Commodore defense with four sacks as a senior in 2016.
• Began collegiate career as an offensive lineman before switching to defensive tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2013.

EXTRA POINTS

• Adam Butler arrived at Vanderbilt as an accomplished high school offensive lineman and spent his freshman season red shirting as a backup at center and guard. During his first offseason, Butler entered a rib eating contest, which judges ruled his team had lost. Butler disagreed and began arguing with the judges. Then Commodore defensive coordinator Bob Shoop was in attendance and witnessed Butler's demeanor and was impressed with his competitive attitude. Shoop convinced then head coach James Franklin to ask Butler to transition to defense. "Coach Franklin brought me into his office and he asked me what I wanted, and I wanted whatever was best for the team," said Butler. "Because we were so short on defensive linemen at that time, that's how it happened."

PERSONAL

• Was a two-time first team 5A All-District selection and two-time captain as a junior and senior at Duncanville (Texas) High School.
• Earned team MVP honors as a senior.
• Also earned letters as a thrower in track & field.
• Majored in earth and environmental sciences at Vanderbilt.
• Descendant of Texas children's rights campaigner Edna Gladney, subject of the 1940's film "Blossoms in the Dust".