Since being drafted and making the switch from cornerback to safety for the New England Patriots, Devin McCourty has been a staple of the defense. The Patriots have gone through plenty of changes of the past few years on the defensive side of the ball, but they clearly value what McCourty brings to the team.
As shown by the contract that they recently gave him, McCourty is a vital part of the defense, as he can play safety and also guard wide receivers 1-on-1. Being able to do both effectively is very rare for a safety, and his experience starting as a cornerback certainly helped him with that.