The Patriots had interest in cornerback Jason McCourty before he signed with the Browns, according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (Twitter link).
New England was often listed as a speculative landing spot for McCourty — Mike Reiss of ESPN.com called McCourty an “ideal fit” for the Patriots — but it was never clear if the club had expressed definitive interest in the veteran corner. McCourty’s twin brother, All Pro safety Devin McCourty, plays for New England, and had hoped for his sibling to join him on the Patriots roster.
The Patriots’ need for an additional cornerback, of course, was greatly reduced after the team failed to trade restricted free agent Malcolm Butler to the Saints (or another club). Butler now figures to pair with signee Stephon Gilmore in one of the league’s best secondaries, where they’ll be backed up by Eric Rowe, Justin Coleman, and Cyrus Jones.