Las Vegas, NV
May 24, 2025 — Long before the chaos of NFL free agency took over the headlines, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll had a clear objective: keep his top defensive players in silver and black. With defensive coordinator Patrick Graham returning, the goal was stability—and one name stood out as a must-keep.
That player? Defensive tackle Adam Butler.
Right before the free agency tampering window opened, the Raiders locked in Butler with a new three-year contract worth $16.5 million, including $11 million guaranteed. The deal reflects just how much the franchise values what Butler has brought to the table since arriving in Vegas.
Butler has been a model of reliability. In the 2023 season, he suited up for all 17 games, finishing with 5.0 sacks and eight tackles for loss. He followed that up with an even more productive 2024 campaign—posting a career-high 65 tackles and maintaining his disruptive presence up front.
His path to this moment hasn’t been glamorous. Originally undrafted in 2017, Butler signed with the Patriots and played a role in their Super Bowl success. After a stint in Miami and a year out of football, he joined the Raiders in 2023 on a reserve/future contract—a move that would spark a career revival.
Since then, Butler has quietly become one of the most dependable players on the Raiders’ defense. NFL.com’s Tom Blair even labeled him the team’s most underappreciated player—something Raider fans may now start to see differently.
With defensive star Christian Wilkins dealing with health setbacks, Butler took on more responsibility last season—and thrived. Now, he’s expected to be a key anchor of the Raiders’ front line in 2025.
Speaking on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider Podcast, Butler expressed how much staying with the Raiders meant to him. “It’s the perfect situation frs me,” he said. “I love this team, I love the organization, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Though his name may not always be in the spotlight, Raider Nation is ready to show Adam Butler the appreciation he’s earned—one tackle at a time