The Patriots will keep Dont’a Hightower around for another season by exercising his fifth-year option, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk tweets. The Pats had until May 3rd to make that determination, but it sounds like they won’t be pushing it to the limit.
The decision on Hightower has been widely expected considering his critical role in the team’s Super Bowl run last season, which included establishing himself as a playmaker, a leader, and a play-caller in Jerod Mayo‘s absence. Mayo, of course, recently reworked his deal with the Patriots in order to help their financial situation.
The Pats have had Hightower’s contract in mind for some time and owner Robert Kraft cited his deal as one of the reasons why he didn’t outbid the Jets for Darrelle Revis this offseason.