Passed over in the 2017 draft, Butts returned to the Murray Bushrangers for another year, won a Goulburn Valley League premiership with Shepparton and was taken by Adelaide at pick 39 in the 2018 rookie draft. The 195cm intercept defender finished fourth in the club's SANFL best and fairest as a first-year player and debuted late in 2020. He has played 94 games and kicked 1 goal.