I wonder if the brass is looking at Bryant as McCourty's heir apparent. He doesn't have McCourty's raw speed, but he's rangey, heady, and disciplined, and he can tackle. Not a man cover corner, but those instincts might be a nice fit. I'd prefer him to be an inch or two taller and 10 lbs heavier, but it's not a hill to die on.
Alternatively, Dugger's improving coverage skills make him McCourty's de facto replacement and Phillips becomes the starter in Dugger's role. And there's always Bledsoe to consider, I guess. Seemed like he had a strong camp, but got buried in the Patriots insane depth at safety. But when guys went down with injuries he never emerged, which isn't a great sign.