Dont'a Hightower has decided to return to the New England Patriots, agreeing to a four-year, $43.5 million deal, the star linebacker's agents announced Wednesday.
The deal also includes $19 million in guaranteed money, according to Hightower's agency, Sports Trust Advisors, which announced the news on Twitter.
Hightower will re-sign with New England despite being coveted by multiple teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Jets. He earned $7.751 million in 2016, as the Patriots had picked up the fifth-year option of the five-year contract he had signed as a rookie.
this is another aspect of the success of the Patriots ... they let their free agents go find out what their market value is rather than giving some lowball offer that gets animosity going ... then, if the Patriots agree with the market price, re-sign the player ... if not, bye bye
according to a couple other stories, the Jets offered more $$$ but withdrew the offer when Hightower left New York without signing it