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Devin McCourty

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/2/23

June 2nd, 2023 at 8:05pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor moves in the NFL:

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed: WR Garett Maag

New England Patriots

Seattle Seahawks

 

Maag fills the open roster spot vacated by retired tight end Ben Ellefson yesterday. After four years at North Dakota, the local native returns home to the Minneapolis area after going undrafted in April. In 49 games for the Fighting Hawks, Maag caught 162 passes for 2,152 yards and 18 touchdowns. He’ll add some depth to a position group in Minnesota headlined by Justin Jefferson, K.J. Osborn, and first-round pick out of USC Jordan Addison.

Patriots S Devin McCourty To Retire

March 15th, 2023 at 3:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

TODAY, 3:45pm: The Patriots have added a year to McCourty’s contract worth the minimum, per ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter). This tactic will instantly open more than $5MM in cap space for the Patriots and will push the retired safety’s $6.2MM in dead money to 2024.

MARCH 10, 2:00pm: After 13 seasons, Devin McCourty intends to walk away from the game. The Patriots safety who played an integral role in the team’s 2010s dominance announced Friday he will retire.

McCourty, 35, was set to be a free agent, after having re-signed with the Patriots on a one-year deal worth $9MM in 2022. McCourty agreed to a few pacts with the Pats during his long run with the organization, but the team will see a significant change at safety in 2023.

This announcement comes a year after Devin’s twin brother, Jason, announced his retirement. The two had a chance to play together with the Patriots near the end of the latter’s career, but Devin enjoyed the opportunity to finish his career having played for one team. The Patriots drafted McCourty in the 2010 first round, and he was an essential piece during five seasons that ended in Super Bowl trips.

Only three players have played in more Super Bowls than McCourty’s five, and his 205 starts trail only Tom Brady and tackle Bruce Armstrong in Patriots history. McCourty managed to stay relatively injury-free as a pro, missing only five games during his career. He exited the 2022 season having not missed a game since 2015.

The Pats tacked void years onto McCourty’s deal for cap purposes; this retirement would accelerate $9.7MM in dead money onto New England’s 2023 cap. Though, as Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap notes (via Twitter) McCourty re-signing on a league-minimum deal (for procedural purposes) could push $6.2MM of that total to 2024.

McCourty agreed to four contracts with the Patriots during his career, earning more than $92MM. The Pats extending him on a five-year, $47.5MM deal in 2015 proved to be quite the pivotal transaction. McCourty continued to serve as the New England secondary’s linchpin during the late 2010s, helping the team join only the early-1970s Dolphins and early-1990s Bills by advancing to three straight Super Bowls. McCourty notched two postseason interceptions and 119 tackles, starting 24 playoff games.

Although McCourty closed his career with two Pro Bowls, he ended it as one of the most important players during the Patriots’ dynasty. The Rutgers product finishes his run with 35 interceptions, two pick-sixes and 11 forced fumbles. Pro Football Focus graded McCourty as a top-five safety three times and slotted him just outside the top 30 at the position last year.

Bill Belichick‘s teams have managed to maintain their place near the top of the league in points allowed despite regularly allowing talented cornerbacks to depart in free agency (Darrelle Revis, Logan Ryan, Malcolm Butler, J.C. Jackson) or via trade (Stephon Gilmore). McCourty’s presence helped on that front. During McCourty’s tenure, the Pats finished as a top-10 scoring defense 11 times. They will attempt to do so again without their back-line general in 2023.

Adrian Phillips and Kyle Dugger remain under contract, but the two Super Bowl-era bastions in New England’s secondary — McCourty and Jonathan Jones — are not. Jones has said he wants to return, but the Pats may need to outbid other suitors once free agency commences next week.

Patriots Notes: Kraft, McCourty, McDermott

February 26th, 2023 at 2:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

Robert Kraft has owned the Patriots since 1994, a tenure which has included the most notable feats in the franchise’s history. If he has his way, Kraft’s stint owning the franchise will not be ending any time soon.

The 81-year-old made it clear during an appearance on Fox Business that he is “never selling” the six-time Super Bowl winning team. The Patriots would certainly net a substantial sales price if that stance were to ever change, but being able to hand ownership of the franchise was one generation to the next is clearly Kraft’s top priority.

“We’ve set it up so that it hopefully stays in the family for many decades to come,” he said, via Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “After my family, the New England Patriots are the most important thing in my life. It’s not a business, it’s really part of my family… I love being in the locker room, being around the players. I just pinch myself that I’ve been so privileged to own a franchise in my hometown.”

Here are some other notes out of Foxborough:

  • Veteran safety Devin McCourty is a pending free agent, as was special teams ace Matthew Slater before he decided to continue his Patriots career for at least one more season. McCourty has yet to decide on his future, as detailed by Karen Guregian of the Boston Herald. The 35-year-old has been in New England since 2010, and he remained a productive, full-time starter in 2022 with 71 tackles and four interceptions. The former first-rounder’s most recent one-year deal contains a $9.7MM cap charge in 2023 via void years, but a new contract could alter that figure. He intends to make a decision about his playing future by the middle of March, likely in time for the start of the new league year.
  • Details are in on the new deal signed by offensive tackle Conor McDermott earlier this month. The 30-year-old will play in New England on a two-year contract with a base value of $3.6MM (Twitter link via ESPN’s Field Yates). The pact also contains incentives based on playing time, though, which means it could top out at $5.1MM. McDermott proved to be a valuable midseason signing off the Jets’ practice squad, as he started at right tackle to close out the regular season. He will at least compete for the No. 1 role at that spot this offseason.
  • McCourty’s future is up in the air, but so is that of two-time Patriot Malcolm Butler. The Super Bowl winning corner rejoined New England last offseason, but was ultimately released with an injury designation. He now feels 100% healthy, as noted by ESPN’s Mike Reiss, and is contemplating another attempted comeback as a player or the prospect of retiring and returning to college while transitioning to coaching. He last played with the Titans in 2020.

Patriots Notes: Klemm, Jones, McCourty

February 6th, 2023 at 3:31pm CST by Adam La Rose

After weeks of speculation with respect to his future, clarity has arrived in the case of Adrian Klemm. The Oregon associate head coach will not be staying in Eugene as previously expected, and will instead join the Patriots’ staff, reports ESPN’s Pete Thamel (via Twitter).

[RELATED: Nick Caley To Join Rams’ Staff As TEs Coach]

The former Patriots o-lineman had been linked to a New England return earlier in the offseason, one in which Bill O’Brien has been hired as their offensive coordinator. That move came as little surprise, given his ties to head coach Bill Belichick and his experience as a play-caller relative to Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, the much-maligned tandem which took on a large role in crafting the Patriots’ underwhelming offense in 2022.

Not surprisingly, Thamel notes that Klemm is set to receive a raise upon his return to an NFL sideline. Prior to his stint in Oregon – where the Ducks allowed the fewest sacks in the country this season – Klemm served as the Steelers’ o-line coach. His arrival will likely see Patricia take on a lesser role within that position group, or a different title altogether if he is retained for 2023.

Here are some other Patriots notes:

  • Cornerback Jonathan Jones had a strong season in 2022, registering four interceptions and 11 pass breakups. That production came as he transitioned from playing primarily in the slot to on the perimeter, as the team dealt with plenty of roster turnover at the position. It helped the pending free agent’s value, but Jones is hoping to parlay his performance into a new deal in New England. ” I would hope so,” the 29-year-old said, via NBC Sports’ Phil Perry, on the subject of a new contract with the Patriots. “That’s where I’ve spent my career. It’s what I know. It’s what I love. I mean, New England is home for me in that aspect. We’ll see. We’ll see how free agency turns out… and we’ll take it from there.”
  • Another key defender for New England, safety Devin McCourty, had a consistent campaign in line with what he has become known for. The 35-year-old started every game in 2022, notching four interceptions and logging over 1,000 defensive snaps for the seventh time in his career. Despite being on the field so long, the former first-rounder required offseason shoulder surgery, notes Thamel’s colleague Mike Reiss. McCourty has four void years remaining on his current deal, leaving his playing future in doubt.

Patriots Rumors: Interviews, McCourty

January 27th, 2023 at 10:08pm CST by Ely Allen

The Patriots coaching staff are currently in Nevada for the East-West Shrine Game, and they plan on conducting a few interviews for a vacant spot on their staff while they’re there, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. New England will interview Bills assistant offensive line coach Ryan Wendell and Oregon Ducks associate head coach/run game coordinator/offensive line coach Adrian Klemm in Las Vegas this weekend.

Wendell played for the Patriots for eight years, winning a Super Bowl with them in 2014. The undrafted lineman out of Fresno State was a starter for them that season for the third straight year. He joined the Bills’ staff in 2019 as a coaching assistant and was promoted after a year to his current position.

Klemm was also an offensive lineman for the Patriots, wearing the red, white, and blue from 2000-04. Klemm was never a full-time starter but served as an important backup who started in multiple spots for New England over the years. Klemm’s coaching career has been much longer than Wendell’s and has mostly been in the collegiate ranks with stints at SMU and UCLA before his jump to the NFL. In 2019, Klemm accepted the assistant offensive line coaching position for the Steelers, eventually getting promoted to offensive line coach in 2021. Klemm left the team that year, though, with two games remaining in the regular season to join the Ducks in his current role.

Here’s one more rumor about the Patriots as they begin their offseason:

  • Veteran Patriots safety Devin McCourty is considering joining his brother, Jason, in retirement, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. He said recently that he isn’t “sure either way.” He reportedly has a family vacation on his mind right now and may address his future after that, but it’s up in the air right now. The 13-year veteran has spent all of his career in New England and hasn’t missed a start since 2015. He has stayed a consistent contributor over the years with four interceptions this past season and 14 in the last four years.

Patriots Re-Sign Brian Hoyer

March 14th, 2022 at 9:00am CST by Zachary Links

Brian Hoyer‘s second stint with the Patriots has been extended. The quarterback has agreed to a two-year, $4MM deal according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). 

[RELATED: Patriots Re-Sign Devin McCourty]

Hoyer’s third stint with the Patriots will continue. Hoyer was brought in last year to mentor Mac Jones and played a role in the rookie’s development. Now, heading into Year Two, the Pats may have a top-10 caliber QB in Jones and a steady veteran backstop behind him.

“Brian’s been a really close friend of mine since I’ve gotten here, and I know he’s older than me, and [I] might be closer in age to his son, Garrett, but he’s still a really good mentor, and he just does a great job every week,” Jones said in October (via Jim McBride of The Boston Globe). “He’s super supportive of me and trying to help me in any way he can, and, you know, he’s hard on me sometimes, which is good, so he holds me to a high standard, and then he also has fun and enjoys the game, so he’s been around for a long time, and I think all the quarterbacks in our room have done that, and Brian is just a great example of a great team leader and a great team player.’’

Hoyer, entering his 14th pro year, saw time in five games last year, completing nine of eleven passes. He’ll be re-joined by guard/center James Ferentz, who also agreed to a new deal on Monday, per McBride.

Pats Re-Sign Veteran DB Devin McCourty

March 13th, 2022 at 9:45pm CST by Ely Allen

The Patriots are bringing back veteran defensive back Devin McCourty for another season, according to the twins’ joint-Twitter account earlier this evening. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the older twin will be returning on a one-year deal worth $9MM. 

McCourty has started every game he’s ever played for the Patriots. Over his 12-year career, McCourty has appeared in 188 regular season games and 24 playoff games, only missing 5 games throughout his career. While he’s never quite matched the production of his rookie year when he intercepted 7 passes and broke up 17, he has long been a staple in the New England secondary, never failing to secure an interception in a season.

The Patriots tend to play three safeties and two corners on defense a lot of the time. Relying on J.C. Jackson and Jalen Mills to lock down outside receivers, McCourty, Adrian Phillips, and Kyle Dugger are able to roam around and cover based on matchups and formations. The trio of safeties produced 11 interceptions between them, with Dugger coming on strong in his second season. The Patriots would love to see Dugger seamlessly step in when the 34-year-old McCourty decides to hang up the cleats.

With Jackson heading to the open market, the Patriots’ cornerbacks cupboard is looking pretty bare. Behind Mills is third-year corner Joejuan Williams and reserve corner Justin Bethel. McCourty’s experience at corner could be useful, but should be thought of as a last resort, as most corners move to safety in their advanced age, not the other way around. More likely the Patriots will look to the Draft and free agency to fill that hole.

Regardless, the Patriots bring back a leader. A durable one. He may not be able to produce on the field like he did in the 2010’s, but his role as the quarterback of the secondary makes him a valuable addition to the team’s 2022 defense.

Devin McCourty Leaning Toward Returning For 13th Season?

February 3rd, 2022 at 5:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the Patriots’ opening-round loss, Devin McCourty did not commit to playing in 2022. But the veteran safety appears to be leaning in that direction.

The 12-year Patriots safety has not declared publicly he will return but has also not given any indication to those close to him retirement is on the table, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com notes. McCourty will turn 35 just before the 2022 season begins. That would make him one of the oldest active defensive players, but the longtime New England starter has also been one of the most durable, having not missed a game since the 2015 season.

McCourty played out the two-year, $23MM deal he inked in 2020, pushing him toward unrestricted free agency. The Patriots still have exclusive negotiating rights with McCourty. Despite the presences of Kyle Dugger and Adrian Phillips, McCourty played 94% of the Pats’ defensive snaps this season. New England has Dugger signed through 2023 and recently re-upped Phillips through 2024. Like McCourty, Phillips was on the cusp of free agency.

Twin brother Jason McCourty, who entered the NFL one year prior to Devin, played a 13th season in 2021. But he suffered an injury midway through his first Dolphins campaign, sidelining him for 10 games. Devin has never missed more than two in a season. He has also started 24 career postseason games — behind only Tom Brady, Jerry Rice and Peyton Manning in NFL history — factoring into his career mileage. Devin and Dont’a Hightower served as defensive pillars during the second leg of New England’s dynasty, but with both being free agents in March, the Pats have some decisions to make.

AFC East Rumors: Jets, Cunningham, McCourty, Dolphins

January 16th, 2022 at 9:25pm CST by Ely Allen

The Jets wasted no time in 2019 when wide receiver Braxton Berrios was waived by the Patriots just prior to the 2019 NFL season. The fourth-year player from the University of Miami was tabbed early in his Jets’ tenure as Jamison Crowder‘s back up in the slot, but Rich Cimini, of ESPN, details how Berrios’s effectiveness running and returning the ball could net him a bigger contract than his fellow slot receivers.

The first-team All Pro return man hits free agency this offseason and it’ll be interesting to see how those talks play out.

Here are a few more notes on the AFC East, starting with another item out of the Tri-State area:

  • Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer has recognized the Eagles’ director of player personnel, Ian Cunningham, as a potential future general manager. The Jets, specifically, have tried twice to bring him on, as he and Jets’ general manager Joe Douglas are both products of the Ozzie Newsome tree from their time with the Ravens.
  • As the Patriots’ season came to an end with last night’s blow out loss to the Bills, ESPN’s Mike Reiss brings forth the question of Devin McCourty‘s future. The New England mainstay has been a lynchpin of the Patriots’ defense for 12 years. But, at age 34 with an expiring contract, what does the future hold for the Boston-based twin.
  • Cornerback Xavien Howard put enough pressure on the Dolphins in August that they restructured his contract with a few rewarding incentives. Howard made sure to cash out. Howard added to his salary $1MM for making the Pro Bowl and another $1MM for playing at least 90% of Miami’s defensive snaps. Barry Jackson, of the Miami Herald, details the situation in his Sports Buzz column.

Patriots’ Devin McCourty To Return In 2021

December 24th, 2020 at 9:18am CST by Zachary Links

Retirement can wait for Devin McCourty. The Patriots safety first pondered walking away two years ago, but that’s not a consideration as he looks ahead to 2021.

“I’m still enjoying football,” McCourty said (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com). “I plan on playing next year. Just trying to finish out these two games the best way I can, and then when the offseason hits, evaluate and all that stuff. But still feel pretty healthy and love going out there and competing.”

McCourty re-upped with the Pats last year on a two-year, $23MM deal. The final season of that pact will pay an $8MM base salary, including $4MM guaranteed if he’s on the roster on March 20. The 33-year-old has little left to prove, but the end of the Patriots’ AFC East title streak may have reignited his fire.

The former Rutgers star first entered the league as a first-round pick of the Patriots back in 2010. He’s been with them ever since, capturing three Super Bowls along the way. He’s also been an incredibly consistent presence on the field, starting at least 14 games in all eleven of his pro seasons.

Throughout his career, McCourty has always ranged from good to great, and he racked up five interceptions in 2019, his most since 2012. This year, with two games to go, he has two interceptions, including his October pick six against the Niners.

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