Patriots: Who will lead the team in interceptions this season?

4. Devin McCourty

31-year-old Devin McCourty is the “elder statesman” of the Patriots defense, particularly when it comes to the secondary. The former Rutgers product was a first-round draft pick of the team back in 2010 – as a cornerback. He played two-and-a-half seasons on the outside, with the results largely a mixed bag, before officially making the switch to free safety in November 2012 (shortly after the Patriots acquired shutdown cornerback Aqib Talib).

The move proved to work wonders for both McCourty and for New England. Suddenly finding himself free to roam sideline to sideline and prevent the deep completion, McCourty rediscovered all the mojo and magic that made him a first-round draft pick to begin with.

Over nine seasons in the league, McCourty has evolved into one of the premier defensive players in the NFL today. He’s made the Pro Bowl twice (2010 and 2016), been named an All-Pro three times (2010, 2013, and 2016), and most importantly, he’s won three Super Bowl championships.

While not necessarily known as a ball-hawking free safety, McCourty still knows how to get his hands on the football when he needs to. In his career, he has nine forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and an impressive 21 total interceptions. He’s only had one pick per season for the last four years running, but with 2019 potentially serving as his swan song (McCourty admitted he was contemplating retirement at Super Bowl Opening Night last February), perhaps that number swells up in what could be his last hurrah.