Devin McCourty extension a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’
By Cory Buck
Eventually, the New England Patriots have to keep someone other than Tom Brady and Vince Wilfork on the roster, right? The team that’s notorious for passing on offering extensions to prime talent is reportedly prepared to offer defensive back Devin McCourty a contract extension beyond his rookie deal, which is set to expire after the 2014 NFL season.
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ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss writes that a McCourty extension is a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’.
"Media reports last month that the Patriots had reached out to defensive back Devin McCourty regarding a contract extension might have sparked an expectation that a new pact could be in the offing, but nothing is imminent at this time. I still think it’s more a matter of “when” it happens than “if,” but my sense is that the Patriots don’t feel a need to rush things. In the last year of his initial rookie contract, McCourty is scheduled to earn a base salary of $3.9 million and count $5.1 million against the salary cap."
McCourty struggled early in his career as a cornerback, but really found his way at safety last season. His stats were nothing special, but a safety’s play is often tough to quantify unless they get a number of interceptions, which can be a product of luck as much as anything else. McCourty did rack up seven picks in 2010 and five more in 2012, while he struggled in 2011 at cornerback.
His resurgence in 2013 however (in which he tallied one interception mostly from safety) should give Patriots fans confidence that, at 26, McCourty has plenty to offer New England in the long term.