Since he was drafted in 2010, Devin McCourty has been about as reliable as one could be manning the backend of the Patriots secondary. But about to turn 34 in August, McCourty is on the back nine of his NFL career and retirement speculation has surfaced in each of the last two seasons, including by McCourty’s own doing in the week leading up to Super Bowl LIII.
The Patriots would be wise to begin, if they have not already, planning for life after McCourty, who is also entering the final year of his contract.
Free safety could be a position the team opts to address perhaps a year early, perhaps to have a rookie soak up so much of what has made McCourty great for over a decade.
Georgia’s Richard LeCounte could be worth a late round flier with the hopes of him being ready to take over in 2022.
Richard LeCounte – Georgia
Week 1 Age: 22
Size: 5’11” 196 lbs
2020 Stats: 26 total tackles, 3 interceptions, 4 passes defended
Projected Round: 6-7
LeCounte followed up a solid junior campaign that saw him enter the conversation as one of the SEC’s best playmakers with an impressive senior year. Only appearing in five games for the Bulldogs, LeCounte tallied 26 total tackles, one tackle for loss, three interceptions, and four pass deflections.
LeCounte enters the draft with a ton of experience. Once called one of head coach Kirby Smart’s “favorite players to coach,” LeCounte was thrown into the fire early and often as a freshman year three years ago, and served as a dependable starter in each of his last three seasons.
He has plus agility in coverage and the versatility to line up at single-high, two-deep, and in the slot, which he often did at Georgia. Here he baits former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa into forcing the ball to the endzone.
LeCounte is not afraid to come down hard in the middle of the field, although size is certainly a concern. Other concerns with LeCounte are his testing numbers. Aside from his small-ish frame, unofficial 40-yard dash times of 4.76 and 4.82 certainly raised some eyebrows. While the 40-yard dash can be a flawed measurement of on-field talent, LeCounte will have to show his ability to keep up with premier talent of opposing NFL offenses.
Interestingly enough, an anonymous SEC coach was quick to defend LeCounte despite the worrisome testing numbers.
“I thought he was lights out the best safety in the conference — his range, versatility, just his ability to command it back there. Not only was he skilled but he knew what was coming. He was prepared. He’s a vocal, physical, contact player who can get the ball out of the air. Can match in coverage. He’s got NFL three-dimensional versatility where he can play on the roof, can match in coverage and can fit the box.”
Is he a fit for the Patriots? LeCounte was a leader on the Bulldogs defense with good communication skills on the back end. He also projects to have special teams upside, something that will help his case to crack an NFL roster this summer. He might not possess the traits that some of the safeties projected to go in the first few rounds do, but it’s hard to overlook his dependability and versatility in a top program like Georgia – a school which the Patriots have targeted in recent drafts. LeCounte could be worth a look to come in and earn an initial role on special teams while learning from Devin McCourty as he finishes out his career.
