Patriots Signing of Jason McCourty a Good Low-Risk Move

The McCourty twins are finally getting a chance to play together when the Patriots traded for Jason McCourty in a very low cost/risk, high-reward type of deal. McCourty was about to released by the Browns in a cost-cutting move when the Patriots approached the Browns and offered their sixth-round pick for the Browns’ 7th rounder and McCourty.

So for moving back 15 spots at the back end of the draft, the Patriots get a very serviceable corner and a guy that they tried to bring in more than once before.

McCourty, 30, was originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the 6th round (203rd overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft. He is considered, (like his brother) as a great locker room influence on both the younger players and veterans alike. His $3 million dollar cap hit is extremely affordable.

What does it mean for the Patriots secondary? He’s another 6-foot tall corner that can play on the boundary or possibly be moved into the slot. With Malcolm Butler now in Tennessee, the Patriots needed at least another corner with a veteran presence and now that block is checked. I still believe that they’ll draft a corner in the upcoming draft. Perhaps now it will be a mid-round pick.

It gives them options and much-needed depth at the position as they’ll be able to present different looks depending on matchups.

But for now, the cornerback situation has Stephon Gilmore, Eric Rowe, McCourty, Jonathan Jones, Cyrus Jones, as well as practice squad players Ryan Lewis and Jomal Wiltz signed for 2018. The cupboard is hardly bare there and if both of the Jones are healthy to begin training camp, (especially Jonathan in the slot) then the team is in good shape moving forward.

It was interesting to see some of the comments pooh-poohing the Rutgers connection for the Patriots and former Scarlet Knight head coach Greg Schiano. The Rutgers connection has actually worked out quite well for the Patriots. The McCourty twins, Logan Ryan, Duron Harmon and yes, Steve Belichick, the current Patriots safeties coach were all Rutgers alums and played for Schiano. Hardly a collection of stiffs.Other names who played under Schiano and made brief stops in New England were Tiquan Underwood and Alex Silvestro.

While it wasn’t the splash signing that fans were clamoring for, it was a very low-risk, high reward type of deal. He was a guy the Patriots tried to bring in once before and it didn’t work out. Now they have their man and they can continue to move forward with re-tooling the defense.

Rumors are Adrian Clayborn is in town for a visit on Friday morning. They still need some much-needed depth and athleticism at the linebacker position.

But for the McCourty twins who haven’t played together since Rutgers, they’ll finally get the chance to suit up together in the NFL. The Patriots get a good corner who graded out well according to Pro Football Focus in 2017 in his only season with the Browns.

It isn’t a fantasy football squad they are building but a 53-man roster. “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.”

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About Steve Balestrieri

A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

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