New England Patriots: Dont’a Hightower Will Not Receive Franchise Tag

According to reports, the New England Patriots are not expected to be giving linebacker Dont’a Hightower the franchise tag.

The New England Patriots will not place a franchise tag on Super Bowl LI hero Dont’a Hightower according to Adam Schefter. He forced a Matt Ryan fumble that sparked a comeback for the Patriots en route to their overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons for their fifth title.

Hightower had been with the team since 2012, when they drafted him with the 25th overall pick in the draft.. He recorded 65 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2016. The performance earned him his first Pro Bowl selection. He didn’t participate as he and the Patriots were preparing for Super Bowl LI to be played the week after the Pro Bowl.

Recently, the Patriots traded Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals last offseason. They also traded Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns early in the season. Both of these moves were indications that it was Hightower that the Patriots hoped to keep in free agency.

Hightower’s best season came in 2014. He recorded 89 tackles and six sacks. The Patriots won their fourth Super Bowl that season, beating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.

While the team won’t be putting the tag on him, that doesn’t mean he can’t return to the team. They’ve been clearing cap space to re-sign the man that sparked a comeback for the ages on Feb. 5.

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The team offered Hightower a a deal that would have paid him $10 million last season, but he turned it down. Now, if they sign him, he could make even more. As a talented linebacker, Hightower should have multiple suitors in free agency. However, the Patriots do have the money to give him a new deal this offseason. It’s all in the hands of the Patriots if they want him back or not.