If Hightower walks what is the best option?

Obviously we all want the Pats to sign him but lets say some team just goes crazy and way over pays an unjustifiable amount. What now?

Looking at the best options I don't like them

Zach Brown? Played great last year on a "prove it" deal and will get a big money long term deal. I hate to invest long term in guys who really only have 1 really good year and had it on a contract year. Gerald Hodges? I like him him and he has been successful for years but is a bit small for BB's taste and might make them change their scheme which requires a bigger LB to run well. Kiko Alonso? Always injured. Perry Riley? May make sense but he has been banged up a good amount recently too and I question his pass rush ability. Rolando McClane? PED issues are worrying. Kevin Minter? Another guy who stepped up only in the last year of his contract. Sean Spence? Too small for our scheme.

After that you have potential RFAs and start to scrap the bottom of the barrel for who are legit starters. Maybe a trade could be the best option but that is not something you can 100% control. So is the plan to get 2 of these guys if Hightower walks and figure they combined will give you enough or trade for someone or rely on a rookie?

I just don't love any option. If I had to pick one I'd say sign Zach Brown but that is a long term big money investment in a guy who might regress from the past year. You don't get him on another 1 year contract like last year.

Agreed on ZB, but I think HT is getting paid.

Reuben Foster with 12th pick after we trade JG. He may not be as versatile as 'Tower but not many are. He also has the BB genes playing for Saban. We should just tag Dont'a for this year and worry more about it later.

Edit: I also like Zach Cunningham from Vandy if he lasts to the 32nd pick.

Franchise Tag

Dont'a...







...you're it.

You cant expect to replace a pro bowl middle linebacker who has 5 years of experience in your system. You do the best you can to find the next best guy and strengthen the defense around him. This happens every year it's not new.

some nobody the league has never heard of that was cut 4 years ago from some basement dweller teams practice squad that BB has had his eye on for a while to try out a new hybrid 4-3 defense.

Roberts, Van Noy, maybe McClellin, maybe Freeny, maybe a draft pick, and spending the available cap space to improve different positions where there are actually good options available.

Zach Brown would make a lot more sense if the Patriots were looking for that Mayo/Collins replacement to play next to Hightower. The Bills got Brown for cheap due to his inability to defend the run earlier in his career, and one good season doesn't suddenly convince me that he wouldn't be a terrible fit in Hightower's role.

A bridge...or maybe a rope.

i really, really, really like Hightower. but paying him 13-15M per year to play LB, a position that BB has done a great job finding cheap guys who fit into the thumper role and pass defending role, i dont think is a great decision. LB really isnt a prime position in this day and age of the NFL. you need pass rushers and pass defenders. its kind of like the RB of defense.

i thought about it, and maybe, can justify it if we use him more in the pass rushing role he seems to do well with. also, there is value in his leadership. i never realized how big of a leaeder he was until watching the sound Fx and super bowl stuff on NFL NEtwork.

diminishing his value, i think is his propensity to get injured. missing many games over the past several seasons, i would imagine the likelihood of injury only increases as he ages.

unless he thinks of Hightower in the same way he considered McCourty, i think BB lets him walk, unfortunately.

billdog3484 said:

i really, really, really like Hightower. but paying him 13-15M per year to play LB, a position that BB has done a great job finding cheap guys who fit into the thumper role and pass defending role, i dont think is a great decision. LB really isnt a prime position in this day and age of the NFL. you need pass rushers and pass defenders. its kind of like the RB of defense.

i thought about it, and maybe, can justify it if we use him more in the pass rushing role he seems to do well with. also, there is value in his leadership. i never realized how big of a leaeder he was until watching the sound Fx and super bowl stuff on NFL NEtwork.

diminishing his value, i think is his propensity to get injured. missing many games over the past several seasons, i would imagine the likelihood of injury only increases as he ages.

unless he thinks of Hightower in the same way he considered McCourty, i think BB lets him walk, unfortunately.

Click to expand...

I agree with your last point. McCourty was given the big bucks and played up to his contract. HT has been spectacular when healthy but he hasn't been healthy a lot.

It seem's like hightower has gotten a big ego. I don't know if the pats would offered 12 million but that's a respectable per year for hightower.

I think we have the room to sign him and that is the likely outcome. If it gets like McCourty though, I don't think we give him the richest contract for a LB and rather let him walk for the comp pick and salary balance. From my view Butler is a more important signing.

If he does walk we have options on the team and we will draft and bring in players. Loss of Hightower is one I think we can absorb and still compete.

Trade Jimmy G. to Cleveland, draft LB with the #12 pick.

Sciz said:

Roberts, Van Noy, maybe McClellin, maybe Freeny, maybe a draft pick, and spending the available cap space to improve different positions where there are actually good options available.

Zach Brown would make a lot more sense if the Patriots were looking for that Mayo/Collins replacement to play next to Hightower. The Bills got Brown for cheap due to his inability to defend the run earlier in his career, and one good season doesn't suddenly convince me that he wouldn't be a terrible fit in Hightower's role.

Click to expand...

You are right. There won't really be a replacement the unit will be rebuilt and be different.
Personally considering we play a nickel base and have been a terrific run d the last 3 years turnover at the LB position does concern me because we have been probably the best buckle run d in the NFL and LBs are a big part of that.


Zach brown isn't in the same discussion as Hightower.

PatriotsPimp136 said:

It seem's like hightower has gotten a big ego

Click to expand...

Tuck said:

Agree. I get the same impression regarding his ego.

Click to expand...

Examples????

archstanton543 said:

Trade Jimmy G. to Cleveland, draft LB with the #12 pick.

Click to expand...

I like that experience with hightower. I can see a pass rusher with that 12th pick or maybe an offensive linemen. Bill has surprised us before. That's assuming cleveland trades for jimmy which makes sense.

archstanton543 said:

Trade Jimmy G. to Cleveland, draft LB with the #12 pick.

Click to expand...

Why not just pay Hightower? Then you have Hightower and a high 1 as a dominant LB group.


Actually that would work well under the tag. The rookie adjusts on 2017 and studs in 2018.

PatriotsPimp136 said:

It seem's like hightower has gotten a big ego. I don't know if the pats would offered 12 million but that's a respectable per year for hightower.

Click to expand...

hes gotta be egoo...such a big egooo.. lol who cares. he should take the most money, unless we offer him very close to the highest

varjao said:

Franchise Tag

Click to expand...

Agreed, HT aint going anywhere.