Safety Devin McCourty may be hitting the open market.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Patriots have placed their franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski, which means they’ll either have to sign McCourty to a new contract by the start of the new league year on March 10 or risk losing him to another team on the open market. Should McCourty get to that point, he’s expected to be pursued by several teams as he’ll be the top safety available.
If Gostkowski plays out the season under the tag, he’ll make $4.59 million. The tag for safeties is $9.6 million, which may have influenced the decision if the Patriots know that they have other things they want to do with that money.
Gostkowski made 35-of-37 field goals for the Super Bowl champions in 2015, his ninth season with the club. It’s the third time the Patriots have used the tag on a kicker with Adam Vinatieri getting it in 2002 and 2005.