HENDERSON, Nev.-Adam Butler has become one of those players opposing teams have to account for, and one NFL executive thinks the Raiders may need to keep him in mind if the trade deadline turns into a selling point.
The Las Vegas Raiders (3-2) are getting ready for a serious test Sunday when the Buffalo Bills (4-1) and quarterback Josh Allen come to town. The jump in competition is obvious after last week’s matchup with the Patriots, and Las Vegas is still chasing an upset. But while the focus naturally lands on Buffalo’s offense, Butler keeps forcing his way into the conversation.
During a recent conversation about the trade deadline, the executive pointed straight to the Raiders defensive tackle.
“If the Raiders become sellers at the trade deadline, don’t leave out [Adam] Butler. Spy [GM John Spytek] has him on a great deal with I think one year left (he is correct) and that guy is playing like a f---ing beast.”
He didn’t stop there.
“I think you got to go back to Richard Seymour before you have a DT for the Raiders that plays that consistent.”
That kind of praise lands because the numbers back up the broader point. Since 2011, when Richard Seymour and Tommy Kelly did it, the Raiders have not had a defensive tackle post back-to-back seasons with at least five sacks until Butler turned the trick in 2023 and 2024. Even now, with some critics pointing to a dip in sack totals, Butler’s influence shows up in the way offenses block him and in the way they build protections around him.
He’s been the steadiest presence at defensive tackle for Las Vegas, and he’s outproducing plenty of players who came into the league with more draft buzz and bigger contracts. The end result is a veteran who has carved out a reputation through consistency, not flash.
The path matters too. Butler, the pride of Duncanville, Texas, went to Vanderbilt and entered the league as an undrafted free agent. Nine years later, he’s still standing, still producing, and still looking like the sort of player every defense wants in the middle.
Raiders offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak doesn’t usually go out of his way to single out individuals, but he made an exception for Butler.
“Yeah, great question. I think AB [Adam Butler] just from the start has been such a leader here, just the way that he works, the type of professional that he is, and I think the guy's true character sticks out when you're when you're playing at the end of the game, you're down multiple scores, and look no further than his character showing up, making plays.”
Butler also carries the experience of a Super Bowl winner from his time in New England with Tom Brady, and that background fits naturally with the message Brady has around the Silver and Black building. Asked about helping push that championship mindset onto younger players, Butler was direct about his role.
“Taking that mentality (Super Bowl or Bust) and trying to infect these younger players and get them to see the bigger picture, like is really what it is all about. That’s what I am all about. I try to do that on a daily basis, and that is why they see me as a leader.”
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