Pro Football Talk reports that the Patriots will pick up LBย Dont’a Hightower‘s fifth-year option before next week’s deadline.
This move will run the Patriotsย $7.751 million for the 2016 season. However, this figure is guaranteed for injury only and wouldn’t prevent them from working out a long-term deal that would come with a lower cap figure.
Hightower, 25, was in the final year of his four-year, $7,724,002 rookie contractย that includedย $6,280,729 guaranteed. He’ll make a base salary of $1,443,273 for the 2015 season.
In 2014,ย Hightower appeared in 12 games for the Patriots and recorded 89 tackles, six sacks, a forced fumble and two pass defenses.ย Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 2 inside linebackerย out of 60 qualifying players.
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