One of the most sought-after players in this NFL free agency period is staying home. After letting middle linebacker Dont’A Hightower test the waters of free agency, the New England Patriots re-signed him Wednesday to a four-year, $43.5 million contract with $19 million in guaranteed money.
Hightower is now the second-highest paid middle linebacker in the league behind Carolina Panthers star Luke Kuechly.
As nice as Hightower’s new contract is, he had at least one bigger offer on the table with the New York Jets. Faced with fading into a mediocrity over money he doesn’t really need, Hightower decided to remain in New England.
This just in: Dont'a Hightower is signing a 4 year, $43.5 million deal ($19M guaranteed) to return to the Patriots, per @AdamSchefter. pic.twitter.com/GraQeY221O
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 15, 2017
Again, this is another uncharacteristic move from the Patriots and one they’ve made sure to avoid over the years, many times trading Pro Bowl players for nothing to keep from forking over a big free agent contract. I’m telling you now, Bill Belichick sees the writing on the wall here in the final years (or year) of Tom Brady’s career and he’s not screwing around. It’s smart, but not smart in a way the Pats usually behave.
And regardless of any of the latest chatter about backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, I’ll believe he gets traded when I see it. I really don’t think it will happen.
Last year Hightower recorded 65 tackles, a safety, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two pass defenses.
Late Tuesday the Patriots signed former Cincinnati Bengals running back Rex Burkhead to a one-year, $3.15 million deal. Burkhead carried the ball 74 times for the Bengals last year, gained 344 yards and scored two touchdowns. He caught 17 passes for 145 yards.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings opened the day finally managing to keep one of their free agent wide receivers in Adam Thielen. Theilen gets a three-year deal from Minnesota worth $27 million with $11 million guaranteed. Thielan was the Vikings’ leading receiver in 2016, catching 69 passes for 967 yards and five touchdowns.
Big restricted free-agent deal:
Vikings and WR Adam Thielen reach agreement on three-year deal, per source.
Thielen stays in Minnesota.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2017
While the Vikings had their pens out, the re-signed cornerback Terence Newman. The 38-year old cornerback got a one-year deal worth $3.25 million. This will be Newman’s 15th year in the NFL. Last season he started nine games, played in 15, and recorded 38 tackles, eight pass defenses and an interception.
Late Tuesday the Vikings nabbed former Green Bay Packers defensive end Datone Jones. Jones signed for one-year and $3.75 million. The former first round pick for the Packers had 22 tackles, one sack and two passes defended last season. Jones played in 15 games and started four.
Other NFL moves
The Washington Redskins cut defensive end Ricky Jean-Francois, picking up $4 million in cap room. Last year Jean-Francois started seven games, played in all 16 and finished with 32 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one pass defense.
Center Joe Hawley re-signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a two-year contract. Financial details have not been disclosed.
The San Francisco 49ers acquired center Jeremy Zuttah from the Baltimore Ravens in a trade for their sixth round pick. The 49ers also received Baltimore’s sixth rounder, meaning they traded picks and the Niners got Zuttah in to boot.
The Pittsburgh Steelers added former Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter to their stable of receivers Wednesday. Financial details and length have not been disclosed. Hunter caught 23 passes for 189 yards and four touchdowns last season in 12 games with the Bills.
Offensive tackle Andre Smith is returning to the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent after taking a scenic tour through Minnesota as a member of the Vikings for one season. The contract is for one season and financial details have not been released.
After spending 2016 with Vikings, tackle Andre Smith will rejoin Bengals, where he spent first 7 seasons, per @JeffDarlington.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2017
Jarvis Jones has signed a one-year contract to join the Arizona Cardinals. Jones played in 14 games for the Steelers last season and started nine. He finished with 43 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three pass defenses and an interception.
The Dallas Cowboys continue to rebuild depth on their offensive line. Late Tuesday they signed former first round pick Jonathan Cooper to a one-year deal. No numbers have been revealed.
The Green Bay Packers brought back corner Davon House on a one-year contract. House was with the Packers from 2011-2014 and spent the last two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Last year house played in 13 games, started four and recorded 16 tackles.
The Chicago Bears re-signed kicker Connor Barth to a one-year, $980.000 contract. Barth was 18-of-23 in his field goal attempts for the Bears last season and 31-of-32 on extra points.
The New Orleans Saints signed outside linebacker Alex Okafor away from the Arizona Cardinals with a one-year, $2 million contract. Okafor played in 15 games for Arizona in 2016 and recorded 11 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Saints agree to deal with edge rusher Alex Okafor: source https://t.co/I7W3ZWHvzd pic.twitter.com/qIXoIf74xt
— NOLA.com Saints News (@SaintsNOW) March 14, 2017
The NFL suspended New York Jets tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins for two games for violating the NFL’s PED policy.
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