Linebacker Dont’a Hightower is currently visiting the Jets, reports CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (via Twitter). The meeting is expected to “wrap up” on Monday. We learned earlier today that New York was one of the two “favorites” (along with the Patriots) to sign the free agent.
We’ve been hearing throughout the offseason that the Patriots are interested in retaining Hightower, and La Canfora notes that New England is still very interested in retaining the defender. The former first-rounder finished the 2016 campaign with 65 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 13 games. We listed him as the best available linebacker in our free agent positional rankings.
The Jets have seemed to prioritize making their roster younger throughout the offseason. While Hightower, 27, isn’t a spring chicken, he’s still young enough to fit into the team’s long-term game plan. The Jets haven’t been big spenders in free agency, so they’d have plenty of money to throw at the Pro Bowler.
They’ll presumably have to offer a contract that drastically exceeds that of the Patriots, and it’s important to remember that New England is still operating with a good chunk of cap room. La Canfora notes that teams around the NFL are assuming Hightower will return to New England on a contract that pays $10MM a season.
If Hightower did sign with the Patriots’ division rival, he’d be joining a linebacker corps that currently features starters Sheldon Richardson, David Harris, Darron Lee, and Jordan Jenkins. Seth Walder of The New York Daily News writes that if the team does sign Hightower, they might move on from Harris. The veteran is a long-time member of the Jets defense, but the team could save $6.5MM against the cap by cutting him loose.
Patriots have more money than the Jets they have about 34M which is more than enough to bring back Hightower, Butler and a RB why leave the Pats for a really bad team that cant offer more money
Pats have a max salary in mind and won’t go above it. So if Jets offer more he will leave.
Longer he stays a FA better the odds he leaves.
False longer hes a free agent the better Pats normally dont make moves until later in FA therefore lining up perfectly
Please No!
I like Hightower a lot but I see this as a ploy by the Jets to drive the price up. If I’m BB, I’m tempted to let him go sign with the Jets. He’d be in a losing team for the foreseeable future. Good luck with that.
That was my first thought they arent really interested in him seriously in my opinion they just started a rebuild.
Him meeting with the jets to begin with is a ploy to get the patriots to pay more. he obviously would rather play (and win) with NE, but if NE is blown out of the water by jets offer, he may leave
He is gone,if he was going back to the Pats he would have gone back already
Pats won a SB. Then they added Gilmore and Cooks in the first week of free agency. But if they lose Hightower, the smart money is on idiot fans complaining that Beliciek doesn’t know what he’s doing.
Or you’re just an idiot
Agree I think is a ploy by Jets and/or Hightower to drive price up for Pats. If this was Titans where he has a home or Dolphins where he prefers climate then I’d be more worried but all things being equal climate-wise in the northeast Hightower would be insane to sign with Jets.
Jets may sign Hightower for five years. Makes the defense one a lot of CBs would want to be a part of and that trickles to the offense. He would be a great nucleus and building block moving forward.
Throw the cash at him Maccagnan!