Longtime NFL defensive back Devin McCourty signed a two-year, $23 million contract with the New England Patriots. The deal includes $17 million in guaranteed money and keeps him with his longtime team through the 2021 season. This news was first reported by McCourty himself on Twitter.
Both McCourtys are officially back. https://t.co/nI7VX76q3T
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2020
Devin McCourty, New England Patriots, Agree to Terms
McCourty first entered the NFL as a first-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Selected by the New England Patriots as a cornerback, McCourty started all 16 games and recorded a team-high seven interceptions. This impressive season earned him a spot at the Pro Bowl.
McCourty was unable to build on his impressive rookie season in 2011. The Rutgers product struggled at cornerback, and at one point led the league in yards allowed at the position. Bill Belichick turned him into a pseudo-safety towards the end of the season and made the change permanent when the Patriots acquired Aqib Talib in 2012. Now in a more natural position, McCourty went on to be one of the NFL’s premier safeties. Outside of Earl Thomas, one could argue that McCourty has been among the absolute elites at his position since mid-2012.
McCourty won his first Super Bowl as part of one of the best secondaries in football. Starting at free safety, the quartet of McCourty, Patrick Chung, Darrelle Revis, and Brandon Browner formed one of the NFL’s best and most complete secondaries in the league. Two years later, McCourty played an equally important role in taking home New England’s second championship in three years. Two years after that, McCourty was part of the defense that held Jared Goff and the Los Angeles Rams to just three points in Super Bowl LIII.
Throughout the course of his career, Devin McCourty has started and appeared in 155 games. During his time on the field, the defensive back has recorded 26 interceptions, one pick-six, 772 tackles, 18 tackles-for-loss, and three sacks.
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