Devin McCourty vs. Dez Bryant: Year 3

[patsinthesnow]

I posted this poll at the end of the 2010 and 2011 seasons, as one of the biggest stories on draft day was passing on Dez Bryant for Devin McCourty. (I remember the forum, lol, now that was funny) Even after McCourty's sophomore slump, the majority of fans still preferred Devin over Dez, I'm curious to see if that's changed. IMO I would still take McCourty who could become an All-Pro safety over an All-Pro WR that still has attitude issues.

McCourty:

2010: All-Pro CB rookie year. 7 INTs.
2011: Sophomore slump, 2 INTs, and torched frequently.
2012: Moved to safety, nearly a probowler, 5 INTs.

Bryant:

2010: 45 receptions 561 yards 6 TDs
2011: 63 receptions 928 yards 9 TDs
2012: 92 receptions 1,382 yards 12 TDs (50 receptions 882 yards 10 TDs 2nd half of season)

After three years, it's still unsettled. The way their careers are going, it'll probably be would you rather a top 5 safety or top 5 WR.

To clarify, on draft day the Pats traded down from 22 to 27 and netted a 4th (Hernandez). Bryant was drafted at 24.

 

[BritPat]

I'd say that seeing the struggles of the secondary, the "argument" (if there even was one) over the last couple of years has been blown to pieces by McCourty's play. If the 2010 Draft were tomorrow and we knew how things would turn out, I'd pick McCourty 100 times out of 100.

 

[mgteich]

With Bryant we would have had one of the top offenses in football. Without him, we had the same.

Without MCCourty, we may not have been the playoffs this year.

Defensive backs are hard to find.

 

[Gronkandez]

Dez Bryant wasn't on the board when McCourty was picked. You need to factor in what was netted in the second trade down on draft day.

As much as I would like a talent like Bryant, and as lukewarm as am on McCourty, I don't think Dez is a fit on the Patriots.

 

[NG Pats Fan]

Easily Dez Bryant

 

[borg]

Dez Bryant wasn't on the board when McCourty was picked. You need to factor in what was netted in the second trade down on draft day.

As much as I would like a talent like Bryant, and as lukewarm as am on McCourty, I don't think Dez is a fit on the Patriots.

NE had #22 ...Traded it to Denver for their #24
NE then traded #24 to Dallas for their #27
With the #24, Dallas drafted Dez Bryant

NE used the extra pick received to eventually draft Hernandez in the 4th

 

[jah]

I think Bryant might be a better player overall, but McCourty is much more valuable to this defense than Bryant would be to this offense.

 

[Boomer B]

Tough question to answer.

In terms of talent I would take Dez Bryant. He is exactly what we'd all like in an outside WR. A big target who can stretch the field. I think talent wise Bryant is better at his position then McCourty is at his. But when you add in the fact that Bryant is a clown who needs to be monitored by the team and McCourty is a captain already then things get murkier.

In short, Dez has the higher upside, but McCourty is the safer pick.

 

[Sciz]

Give McCourty a full offseason and camp at FS and he's an All Pro next year. Even while learning on the fly, he made some really "wow" plays.

 

[Brady_12]

McCourty every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Talent and a good locker room guy.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

If we're talking strictly on the field, I'd probably go with Bryant. Man is a beast and it's hard to not salivate over our O with him in the mix.

But he's also an idiot. I feel alot safer committing our future to DMC. At this point he is likely more valuable to our current team anyways.

 

[borg]

Easily Dez Bryant

He's a special athlete that could take this offense to a new stratosphere. But the kids a dope and most organizations want to avoid his kind of drama. But yes, he's exactly the type of WR that this team needs.
In hindsight the Pats spent that 2010 #1 to get a S and a hybrid TE...still not bad

 

[Rob0729]

I'm still not convinced that Bryant would thrive in this system. His intelligence has always been in question. In the Cowboys' simplified offense, he may be a stud. But he could be another Chad Jackson (maybe not that bad) in the Pats' system.

 

[reflexblue]

I posted this poll at the end of the 2010 and 2011 seasons, as one of the biggest stories on draft day was passing on Dez Bryant for Devin McCourty. (I remember the forum, lol, now that was funny) Even after McCourty's sophomore slump, the majority of fans still preferred Devin over Dez, I'm curious to see if that's changed. IMO I would still take McCourty who could become an All-Pro safety over an All-Pro WR that still has attitude issues.

McCourty:

2010: All-Pro CB rookie year. 7 INTs.
2011: Sophomore slump, 2 INTs, and torched frequently.
2012: Moved to safety, nearly a probowler, 5 INTs.

Bryant:

2010: 45 receptions 561 yards 6 TDs
2011: 63 receptions 928 yards 9 TDs
2012: 92 receptions 1,382 yards 12 TDs (50 receptions 882 yards 10 TDs 2nd half of season)

After three years, it's still unsettled. The way their careers are going, it'll probably be would you rather a top 5 safety or top 5 WR.

To clarify, on draft day the Pats traded down from 22 to 27 and netted a 4th (Hernandez). Bryant was drafted at 24.

Bryant is still an immature problem child, and what the hell have the cowboys won with him?........Zilch, nothing, nada

 

[Triumph]

Neither one because theyre both criminals.

Bryant is always in trouble with the law and McCourty should be locked up for impersonating an NFL DB.

 

[JMC00]

NE had #22 ...Traded it to Denver for their #24
NE then traded #24 to Dallas for their #27
With the #24, Dallas drafted Dez Bryant

NE used the extra pick received to eventually draft Hernandez in the 4th

So it's basically Dez Bryant or McCourty & Hernandez

I'll take the latter

 

[Mack Herron]

McCourty is a terrific athlete and by all accounts a great person and team mate. He is also a failed CB, an ineffective KO returner, and an undersized safety who is good in zone coverage, struggles in man coverage, and lacks the size/strength to be a presence in the run game. Against the Ravens he got beat for a TD and was mostly a non-factor otherwise. Bryant has continued to develop and excels at his position. McCourty might still become an effective FS, but Dez is currently the better NFL player.

 

[Gronkandez]

McCourty is a terrific athlete and by all accounts a great person and team mate. He is also a failed CB, an ineffective KO returner, and an undersized safety who is good in zone coverage, struggles in man coverage, and lacks the size/strength to be a presence in the run game. Against the Ravens he got beat for a TD and was mostly a non-factor otherwise. Bryant has continued to develop and excels at his position. McCourty might still become an effective FS, but Dez is currently the better NFL player.

I agree except that he can tackle pretty well.

 

[randomk1]

Bryant was taking over games by the end of the season and the idea of him in this offense is crazy.

But considering our D it's hard to go away from McCourty. He's proven to be a leader,durable and versatile.

 

[Rob0729]

McCourty is a terrific athlete and by all accounts a great person and team mate. He is also a failed CB, an ineffective KO returner, and an undersized safety who is good in zone coverage, struggles in man coverage, and lacks the size/strength to be a presence in the run game. Against the Ravens he got beat for a TD and was mostly a non-factor otherwise. Bryant has continued to develop and excels at his position. McCourty might still become an effective FS, but Dez is currently the better NFL player.

McCourty didn't fail as a CB. he was moved to FS because he could be better for the overall secondary there. If the Pats had a smart safety, good safety to captain the defense, they wouldn't have moved McCourty.

Also, McCourty is pretty good against the run and he is certainly bigger than a guy like Bob Sanders who was a stud safety.