Commanders Agree to Extension With Former Fourth Round Pick

While there is one massive contract extension still waiting to be done with the Washington Commanders in regards to NFL All-Pro wide receiver Terry McLaurin, the franchise is taking care of smaller deals as training camps starts as well.

The Commanders locked up backup safety and special teams ace Percy Butler on a 1-year contract extension on July 24, according to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

“The #Commanders have agreed to terms on a one-year extension with safety Percy Butler, per source,” Pelissero wrote on his official X account. “Locking up a special teams standout.”

Getting Butler in place essentially locks up the safety positions and their 2-deeps for the Commanders headed into 2025 with starters Will Harris and Quan Martin and their backups Butler and veteran Jeremy Reaves.

“Butler has been a good special teamer and backup (safety) for them,” ESPN’s John Keim wrote on his official X account. “Provides some speed.”

“The 2022 fourth-round pick has turned into a steady reserve,” NFL reporter Ben Standig wrote on X. “Was entering the final year of his rookie contract.”

Butler Cemented Draft Status With Blazing Time

Butler 6-foot and 194 pounds, starred at the University of Louisiana as he led the Ragin’ Cajuns to a Sun Belt Conference and earned All-Sun Belt honors as a senior in 2021. He followed that up with a blazing, 40-yard dash time of 4.36 seconds at the NFL scouting combine, essentially cementing his spot in the draft.

The Commanders selected Butler in the fourth round (No. 113 overall) and through his first 3 seasons has played in 47 regular season games with 18 starts, 122 tackles, 10 pass deflections and 4 TFL — that included a career high 13 starts in 2023.

On special teams, Butler has been invaluable and played in over 60 percent of Washington’s special teams snaps in 2 of his 3 seasons.

Commanders Secondary Getting Overlooked

While re-signing Butler doesn’t really move the needle as far as the public’s attention, it at least solidifies depth in the secondary, where the Commanders might be putting together one of the more overlooked, underrated position groups in the NFC East.

Not only did Butler get his extension, but Reaves also signed a 1-year, $3.35 million extension on June 11 and is considered one of the NFL’s best special teams players — he earned NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2022.

As far as the front liners, the Commanders believe Martin might be able to establish himself as one of the NFL’s elite safeties in 2025 — one of the big reasons Washington was comfortable letting safety Jeremy Chinn leave to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency.

Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton singled out Martin among his “Building Blocks” for NFL franchises and pointed out he could be headed toward his own contract extension soon enough.

“Quan Martin deserves recognition as the unheralded building block on the Washington Commanders roster,” Moton wrote on July 5. “While it’s too early for Martin to sign an extension, he may be in line for a new deal next offseason … Typically, teams are willing to pay big bucks to ball-hawking safeties. In 2026, Martin could earn a massive pay raise.”