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Signing Dont’a Hightower would be a huge mistake by the Jets

By Samuel Sutton

Oct 9, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New England Patriots middle linebacker Dont'a Hightower (54) against the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Patriots won 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; New England Patriots middle linebacker Dont'a Hightower (54) against the Cleveland Browns during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Patriots won 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dont’a Hightower has been one of the better linebackers in the NFL since he joined the New England Patriots in 2012. However, signing him wouldn’t be beneficial for the New York Jets or even Hightower.

The New York Jets obviously have a lot of problems that need fixing, but the linebacker position certainly isn’t one of them. There have been rumors that the Jets and the New England Patriots have an interest in linebacker Dont’a Hightower. If they made this decision, it wouldn’t benefit either Hightower or the Jets.

Hightower is coming off a season with the Patriots where he was able to play some solid defense, and win a Super Bowl. He’s even had a lot of success with this team before last year, as he’s been able to tally up a total of 251 tackles, 17 sacks, a touchdown, safety, and two Super Bowl championships.

The Jets are in a rebuilding state, and they have nowhere to go next season so patience is key. However, one area that they’ve pretty much finished rebuilding is the middle linebacker position. They drafted Darron Lee in the first round of last year’s draft, and they still have their veteran middle linebacker, Davis Harris.

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While it might be wise to add more depth to that position since Harris’ age is starting to show, that depth should be one of youth instead of already-developed talent. The bottom line is that picking up Hightower would only be a waste of cap space.

It wouldn’t fix any of New York’s problems, and it would immediately affect Hightower’s career in a negative way. The Jets should use the salary cap space they opened up by letting go of multiple veterans to build upon their key needs, such as the offensive line and the defensive secondary. They have to stay as far away as they can from old and expensive veteran players.

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