Devin McCourty

Devin McCourty seriously considered both the Giants and Eagles before returning to the Patriots.

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

NEW BRUNSWICK ‐ The Giants offseason, so far filled with second-tier signings and no major splashes, wasn't too far off from being way more glamorous and splashier. They were in the running for marquee free agent and former Rutgers star Devin McCourty until the very end.

McCourty, a Pro Bowl free safety, eventually re-signed with the Patriots for five years and $47.5 million. New England came in with a last-minute deal that lured him back. The Giants' offer was also in that range and the Eagles were in the running with an offer slightly under $10 million per season, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

"I thought [Philadelphia] would have a good team. I thought it could be a great situation," McCourty said Saturday night while playing in the New Brunswick Celebrity Basketball Game for Rutgers alum Antonio Lowery's charity. "The hardest thing was, one minute if I didn't go back, I thought I would go [to Philadelphia], but then I also thought I would go to the Giants. New England stepping up made it a lot easier for me."

The familiarity with the Patriots made it an easy decision. McCourty, 27, knows he can win there.

That's part of what made the Giants so appealing as well. He respects the organization that beat him in Super Bowl XLVI, and viewed living and playing in New Jersey as a potential benefit.

"It's home. I live in Jersey in the offseason and it's a great organization," McCourty said just before hitting the game-tying three-pointer and game-winning free throw at New Brunswick High School on Saturday night. "They win all the time, they know what they're doing. So that was a reason why [they were in it until the end]."

McCourty was born in Nyack, New York. He went to high school at Saint Joseph's in Montvale, and starred at Rutgers from 2005-09. He was a first-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2010, but has remained close to the Scarlet Knights program ever since.

Playing for the Giants early on in his career may have been a challenge. But after five professional seasons ‐ and four as a captain ‐ in New England, McCourty is confident he could have easily handled the outside distractions that sometimes come with being so close to home.

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"A little bit [too close to home]. Some [concern] but not really," he said. "I think earlier in my career, it would have been a lot more probably. But now I have no problem saying no, so it would have been easier."

The final numbers on McCourty's deal were solid. That admittedly played into the decision. But it wasn't all about the money.

McCourty claims there was potential to grab "a good amount more" if he was strictly available to the highest bidder. It is believed the Jaguars had an offer in at over $10 million per season. He might have been able to squeeze more out of the Giants and Eagles as well.

But, really, nobody stood a chance if the Patriots came in with a really strong offer, which they did. The Giants would've had to go above and beyond to land the top safety on the market. They still don't have a player on their roster who has started an NFL game at safety.

"I knew if all things were even, [the Patriots] is where I wanted to be," McCourty said. "But at some points there was a lot of doubt. I didn't know for sure. When that starts to happen, you have to say, you have to be ready for change."

McCourty was close, and he claims the Giants and Eagles were the two teams that were on his mind in the days and hours leading up to a final decision.

Meanwhile, the Giants and Eagles remain in search of a starting safety. None of McCourty's caliber remain available.

Jordan Raanan may be reached at jraanan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanRaanan. Find NJ.com Giants on Facebook.