Hightower wants to rush to the quarterback

[Brady6]

Yep, drafting on the DL for depth would have made 5-2-4 viable, using Hightower as a hybrid makes it more possible even without the draft.

Having both Hightower and Ninkovich as hybrid LB/DE types can give you these 2 potential front 5s:

Hightower-Kelly-Wilfork-Armstead-Cha. Jones
or
Ninkovich-Kelly-Wilfork-Armstead-Cha. Jones

From there you can easily stay with 5 down, go 3-4, 4-3. In fact, Collins can put a hand in the dirt too which makes the 5-2-4 truly the most diverse and multiple defense you can put out - especially in no huddle situations.

Hageman, Tuitt, Shazier, Tripp & Kirksey would all be solid additions to the defense if a 5-2 front 7 was used because of the flexibility they provide across formations.

These are some fronts with Hightower, Collins, and Mayo on the field on third downs and passing situations.

3-3-5
LE – Ninkovich
DT – Armstead
RE – Jones
SLB – Hightower
MLB – Mayo
WLB – Collins
LCB – Revis (covers #1 WR)
CB – Browner (covers TE)
CB – Dennard (covers #2)
FS – Ryan
SS – McCourty

4-2-5
LE – Hightower
DT – Armstead
DT – Jones
RE – Ninkovich
SLB – Collins
WLB – Mayo
LCB – Revis (covers #1 WR)
CB – Browner (covers TE)
CB – Dennard (covers #2)
FS – Ryan
SS – McCourty

I am not sure if they will use Ryan at safety but it does get our top five DBs on the field in passing situations so I mocked it here for the heck of it.

In my opinion Mayo, Hightower, and Collins are three of our best defensive players so I would want to see them on the field as often as possible and that could take some creativity. If they mixed Hightower and Collins into the pass rush, it would allow it.

 

[Brady6]

If Hightower was turned into a pass rusher, I see him easily having 9-10 sacks a season. While he might not be a better complete DE than Ninkovich, I think he could be a better pass rusher.

I am at odds here with your post, I agree with the belief that Hightower could be an effective pass rush, I liken last season to the years when Vrabel was forced to move inside to fill a need for the team. I think that it is possible that given the opportunity Hightower could do what Vrabel did in 2007 when he was given the chance to play OLB. The second part about Ninkovich I disagree, I actually think that Ninkovich is a very effective pass rusher, one of the more effective LDE in the NFL. He led the team with 86 pressures (8 sacks, 16 QB hits, and 62 hurries) in 2013.

One thing that goes somewhat overlooked for Ninkovich and leads many to believe he is not an effective pass rusher is that he is a hybrid, he is not a DE, in fact he drops into coverage or stunts much of the time. He is also on the strong side, and often times he will be tasked with chipping the tight end of inside receiver before rushing the passer.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Hightower's greatest strength is his versatility. I'd rather that the Pats utilized that versatility than pigeonholing him (granted, last year it was out of necessity due to injuries) in a role where he just isn't very good.

I don't even think it needs to be a wholesale position switch. Just another guy who can confuse offenses by lining up all over the place; the more of them that you have, the more creative you can get.

 

[captain stone]

Might as well let Hightower rush the passer, because he absolutely sux big ones at coverage.