Devin McCourty Gives Glowing Outlook on Opt-Out Players’ Potential Return

The New England Patriots lost eight players last season. These players opted out of the 2020 NFL season due to health concerns. Some of these players had a key role on the Patriots roster. Head coach Bill Belichick had to replace them with rookies and inexperienced players. Patriots veteran Devin McCourty addressed the potential return of opt-outs, and he seems pretty confident about it.

“From my understanding, they’ll all be back — B. [Brandon] Bolden, High [Dont’a Hightower], [Patrick] Chung, so I can’t wait,” McCourty told Tom Curran on Patriots Talk Frida. “Those are my guys. [Marcus] Cannon.”

The following players also opted out of the season:

  • FB – Danny Vitale
  • WR – Marqise Lee
  • TE – Matt LaCosse
  • OL – Najee Toran

Lee plans to play in 2021. He signed a one-year deal with the Patriots ahead of 2020. Vitale signed a one-year deal too and he also expects to hit the field in 2021. These two players will definitely add value to Josh McDaniels’ offense. However, the players McDaniels mentioned are the real game-changers.

Patriots plan the potential return of many players

Patriots players really missed Hightower. Belichick needed his presence on the field. He was a second-level tackle. They also missed him as “the quarterback of their defense, a capable blitzer, and his overall leadership.”

Ja’Whuan Bentley and Terez Hall tried really hard to fill in for Hightower on the field. However, neither of these players compared to what Hightower brings to the defense.

Hightower will turn 31 in March. Soms thought that Hightower considers retiring. Well, he will probably return in 2021 and the Patriots will no longer worry about his absence. This will also help Belichick focus on other players. He won’t have to go after a linebacker in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Patriots missed the playoffs in the 2020 NFL season. They entered the offseason too early, but this gives Belichick plenty of time to find the right players for his roster. New England lacked strong weapons this past season. Veteran quarterback Cam Newton didn’t use his full potential and help the Patriots win games. Maybe Belichick will give him enough weapons in 2021. Maybe he will sign another quarterback.