Options for Patriots if longtime FS Devin McCourty retires

Devin McCourty, New England's longtime starting free safety, is mulling retirement. His ultimate decision could determine the team's direction in free agency and draft. 

If McCourty retires, the Patriots could turn to either the Draft, free agency or a promotion from within as a replacement. Here are options:

Promote from within

Jabril Peppers, a six-year veteran and Swiss army knife of defenders, could play free safety, but he's an impending free agent. In 17 games in 2022, he made five starts and played 35% of the defensive snaps, according to Pro Football Reference.   

Peppers has alternated between corner, strong safety and free safety throughout his career. In 2018 for the Browns, Peppers started 16 games at free safety, recording 79 tackles, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.           

Another possible internal option is 30-year-old veteran Adrian Phillips. 

At 5-foot-11, Phillips is on the smaller side for a safety. Like Peppers, the nine-year veteran has the versatility to play multiple positions, a trait head coach Bill Belichick values.

In 2020, when he was a starter for the Patriots, Phillips had 109 tackles and two interceptions in 16 games. In 2022, however, he wasn't reliable in man coverage, which is why -- among other reasons -- he saw decreased playing time. 

If McCourty were to retire, Phillips could be a short-term fix.

Free agency

NFL free agency has a lot of attractive names at the free safety position. Jessie Bates from the Bengals is one of them.

Bates was playing under the franchise tag during the 2022 season after failing to reach an agreement on a long-term deal with Cincinnati. If Bates cannot agree on a deal with the Bengals again this off-season, then he will become a free agent.

Bates was listed as the 10th best free agent in the upcoming class by ESPN for a reason. The Wake Forest graduate possesses an elite skillset that is especially alluring because of him being just 25 years old.  

Three spots lower on ESPN's same list is Philadelphia's FS Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who has more than enough talent to make the Patriots happy. 

Gardner-Johnson was obtained by the Eagles from the Saints via trade in late August of 2022. In New Orleans, Gardner-Johnson primarily worked as a corner, but after switching to Philadelphia's system, Gardner-Johnson transitioned to a safety, where he recorded a career-high in total tackles (67) and interceptions (six).     

Due to Gardner-Johnson being new to the safety position, there may be some untapped potential that could be harvested by an experienced coach like Bill Belichick. The Eagles will have a lot of free agents to sign during this off-season, and it is very possible that CGJ escapes their grasp. 

Draft

If youth is a priority, the Patriots have many options in the draft, including Texas A&M's Antonio Johnson.

Johnson's projections are scattered, with some sites placing him as a late-first rounder or second rounder. If Johnson is overlooked by the first handful of teams, the Patriots would have a gem right in their laps at the price of a trivial second round pick.    

Another option is Illinois' Sydney Brown. 

Brown has promising size for a safety, measuring in at exactly six feet. With a 40-yd time of 4.45 seconds, Brown is in the 86th percentile for safeties at past NFL Combines. 

Per ESPN, Brown recorded 59 total tackles, six interceptions and a forced fumble in 2022. The highlights he collected in 1v1's during his senior season are enough for any team to take a chance on him.