Dolphins agree to deal with veteran DB Jason McCourty

On the same day the Miami Dolphins released one veteran defensive back, they agreed to sign another to join the team’s secondary.

The Dolphins plan to sign veteran defensive back Jason McCourty, reuniting the former New England Patriots standout with Dolphins coach Brian Flores, a league source confirmed to the Sun Sentinel.

McCourty, a 12-year NFL veteran, will join Miami after the Dolphins released safety Bobby McCain Thursday after six seasons with the team. McCourty could play cornerback and safety for the Dolphins defense.

McCourty was a sixth-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2009 and spent eight seasons with them before playing for the Cleveland Browns in 2017 and the Patriots from 2018-20.

McCourty played one season, in 2018, under Flores, who was the Patriots’ de facto defensive coordinator at the time. Flores also has a close relationship with McCourty’s twin brother, Devin, after coaching him for nine seasons in New England.

McCourty should bring a wealth of experience to the Dolphins secondary led by NFL interceptions leader and cornerback Xavien Howard, and Miami’s highest paid player in cornerback Bryon Jones.

First-round pick Noah Igbinoghene, nickel cornerbacks Nik Needham, Jamal Perry, Justin Coleman, and safeties Eric Rowe, Brandon Jones and 2021 secondround pick Jevon Holland also could play major roles in the Dolphins secondary in 2021.

McCourty has started in 137 of 166 games he has played in with 18 interceptions and 106 pass deflections in his career.

Earlier Thursday, the Dolphins released McCain, a fifth-round pick in 2015, who became a team captain for the past two seasons. McCain’s release clears $5.66 million in cap space for Miami.

The Dolphins also signed Jibri Blount, the 2020 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference basketball player of the year at North Carolina Central, and will try him out as a tight end.