Dont'a Hightower wouldn’t have turned his nose up to a $15 million salary in 2017 if the Patriots decided to use the franchise tag on him.
But it wasn’t what the Patriots linebacker preferred.
The music has started and the dance has begun between Hightower and the Patriots. His agents revealed on Tuesday that the team would not use the tag on him. That means Hightower will hit the free agent market next week where he’s likely going to get plenty of interest.
He’s going to seek the security of knowing where he’ll be for the next four or five seasons and the financial windfall a 27-year-old who’s won two Super Bowls in three seasons – and made game-altering and game-saving plays in each – will command.
Had he been tagged, the process for that would have been delayed a year and that security – albeit at a handsome price – would have stayed out of reach.
Not using the tag shouldn’t be read as a sign of non-interest by New England. More like an act of good faith.
Hightower’s going to start entertaining contract offers next week that could reach as high as $60M (remember, the cap is going to be between $166M and $169M). The Patriots – who are either miserly or value-conscious depending on your viewpoint – will hope that Hightower will give them a shot to match those offers or find tweaks to get Hightower to settle for less. For instance, guaranteed money and the amount Hightower will be paid in the first three years should be of primary importance. The professional lifespan of inside linebackers isn’t great.
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The Patriots may not want to commit to Hightower into his 30s, but with $60M in cap space available this year and a very good roster sealed up through 2019, a shorter but more concrete contract could be their selling point.
It will be a process. But the opening riff is over.