Jason McCourty is sticking around New England.
The Patriots are re-signing the veteran cornerback to a two-year contract, a source told NESN.com’s Doug Kyed on Wednesday. McCourty was set to become an unrestricted free agent when the NFL league year opens at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
The 2018 season was McCourty’s first with the Patriots after eight years with the Tennessee Titans and one with the Cleveland Browns. It also was his first campaign playing alongside his twin brother, safety Devin McCourty, since the two were college teammates at Rutgers.
Jason McCourty proved to be a valuable addition to New England’s secondary, starting 12 games opposite first-team All-Pro Stephon Gilmore and grading out as Pro Football Focus’ sixth-best cornerback.
The 31-year-old intercepted one pass and broke up 10 during the regular season, then added another four PBUs in the playoffs, including a pivotal one against Brandin Cooks that prevented a touchdown in Super Bowl LIII.
McCourty confirmed the signing on Twitter.
With McCourty re-signing, the Patriots will return almost their entire cornerback group from last season. Gilmore, breakout rookie J.C. Jackson, promising speedster Keion Crossen and redshirted second-round draft pick Duke Dawson all are under contract for 2019, and the team took a step toward retaining restricted free agent slot corner Jonathan Jones by tendering him Tuesday.
To date, the only departure has been Eric Rowe, who reportedly intends to sign with the Miami Dolphins after missing the majority of the 2018 campaign with a groin injury.
Devin McCourty has one year remaining on his Patriots contract and is set to carry a salary cap hit of $13.435 million in 2019. The Patriots could look to lower that number by signing the longtime team co-captain to an extension, though such a move has yet to be discussed, per Kyed’s sources.
