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Current Contract
Dont'a Hightower signed a 4 year, $35,500,000 contract with the New England Patriots, including a $10,000,000 signing bonus, $19,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $8,875,000. In 2021, Hightower will earn a base salary of $7,850,000 and a roster bonus of $820,305, while carrying a cap hit of $12,445,305 and a dead cap value of $2,500,000.
Contract: 4 yr(s) / $35,500,000 Signing Bonus $10,000,000 Average Salary $8,875,000 Total Guarantees $19,000,000 Guaranteed at Signing $17,000,000 Free Agent: 2022 / UFA Bonus Breakdown Cap Details Cash Details Year Age Base Salary Signing Roster Misc. Cap Hit Dead Cap Yearly Cash 2017 27 $1,250,000 $2,500,000 $710,931 $875,000 $5,335,931 $17,000,000 $12,398,435($12,398,435) Pre-6/1 Release 2017 Dead Cap: $17,000,000 2017 Cap Savings: $-11,664,069 Pre-6/1 Trade 2017 Dead Cap: $10,000,000 2017 Cap Savings: $-4,664,069 Post-6/1 Release 2017 Dead Cap: $9,500,000 2018 Dead Cap: $7,500,000 2017 Cap Savings: $-4,164,069 Post-6/1 Trade 2017 Dead Cap: $2,500,000 2018 Dead Cap: $7,500,000 2017 Cap Savings: $2,835,931 2018 28 $5,750,000 $2,500,000 $820,305 $625,000 $9,695,305 $13,250,000 $7,195,305($19,593,740) Pre-6/1 Release 2018 Dead Cap: $13,250,000 2018 Cap Savings: $-3,554,695 Pre-6/1 Trade 2018 Dead Cap: $7,500,000 2018 Cap Savings: $2,195,305 Post-6/1 Release 2018 Dead Cap: $8,250,000 2019 Dead Cap: $5,000,000 2018 Cap Savings: $1,445,305 Post-6/1 Trade 2018 Dead Cap: $2,500,000 2019 Dead Cap: $5,000,000 2018 Cap Savings: $7,195,305 2019 29 $7,000,000 $2,500,000 $820,305 $1,125,000 $11,445,305 $7,000,000 $8,945,305($28,539,045) Pre-6/1 Release 2019 Dead Cap: $7,000,000 2019 Cap Savings: $4,445,305 Pre-6/1 Trade 2019 Dead Cap: $5,000,000 2019 Cap Savings: $6,445,305 Post-6/1 Release 2019 Dead Cap: $4,500,000 2020 Dead Cap: $2,500,000 2019 Cap Savings: $6,945,305 Post-6/1 Trade 2019 Dead Cap: $2,500,000 2020 Dead Cap: $2,500,000 2019 Cap Savings: $8,945,305 2020 30 - - - - - - $150,000($28,689,045) Pre-6/1 Release 2020 Dead Cap: $0 2020 Cap Savings: $0 Pre-6/1 Trade 2020 Dead Cap: $0 2020 Cap Savings: $0 Post-6/1 Release 2020 Dead Cap: $0 2021 Dead Cap: $0 2020 Cap Savings: $0 Post-6/1 Trade 2020 Dead Cap: $0 2021 Dead Cap: $0 2020 Cap Savings: $0 2021 31 $7,850,000 $2,500,000 $820,305 $1,275,000 $12,445,305 $2,500,000 $8,670,305($37,359,350) Pre-6/1 Release 2021 Dead Cap: $2,500,000 2021 Cap Savings: $9,945,305 Pre-6/1 Trade 2021 Dead Cap: $2,500,000 2021 Cap Savings: $9,945,305 Post-6/1 Release 2021 Dead Cap: $2,500,000 2022 Dead Cap: $0 2021 Cap Savings: $9,945,305 Post-6/1 Trade 2021 Dead Cap: $2,500,000 2022 Dead Cap: $0 2021 Cap Savings: $9,945,305 2022 32 UFA Contract Notes:- $17M fully guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2017 salary + 2018 salary)
- $2M of 2019 salary fully guarantees on 3/17/2019
- Annual Per Game Active Bonus: $54,687 ($875,000, 5 LTBE in 2018, 15 LTBE in 2019, 15 LTBE in 2020)
- Playing Time Bonus
65% defensive snaps: $375,000
70%: $625,000
75%: $875,000
80%: $1M - Pro Bowl: $500,000 (LTBE in 2017)
- 1st Team All Pro: $500,000
- 2020: opted-out, salary tolls to 2021
Contract Source: Boston Globe
Previous Contracts
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2012-2016Entry Level
Contract: 4 yr(s) / $7,724,002 Signing Bonus $4,057,456 Average Salary $1,931,001 Total Guarantees $6,280,729 Guaranteed at Signing $6,280,729 Free Agent: 2017 / UFA -
Estimated Career Earnings
Year Team Awards Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Restructure Bonus Option Bonus Incentive Earnings 2012 $390,000 $4,057,456 - - - - - $4,447,456 2013 $741,091 - - - - - - $741,091 2014 $1,092,182 - - - - - - $1,092,182 2015 $1,443,273 - - - - - - $1,443,273 2016 $7,751,000 - - - - - $16,933 $7,767,933 2017 $1,250,000 $10,000,000 $273,435 - - - $875,000 $12,398,435 2018 $5,750,000 - $820,305 - - - $625,000 $7,195,305 2019 $7,000,000 - $820,305 - - - $1,125,000 $8,945,305 2020 - - - - - - $150,000 $150,000 9 seasons $25,417,546 $14,057,456 $1,914,045 - - - $2,791,933 $44,180,980 2021 $7,850,000 - $820,305 - - - - $8,670,305 $33,267,546 $14,057,456 $2,734,350 - - - $2,791,933 $52,851,285 Seasons Team Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Restructure Bonus Option Bonus Incentive Total Cash 9 seasons $25,417,546 $14,057,456 $1,914,045 - - - $2,791,933 $44,180,980 -
Fines
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09/12/2014, $16,537
Roughing the Passer against Ryan Tannehill (MIA)
TOTAL: $16,537
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Transactions
Jul 28 2020Opted out of the 2020 season (COVID-19)Mar 15 2017Signed a 4 year $35.5 million contract with New England (NE)Apr 29 2015New England (NE) exercised a $7.751 million option for 2016Sep 12 2014Fined $16,537 Roughing the Passer against Ryan Tannehill (MIA)Jul 18 2012Signed a 4 year $7.72 million contract with New England (NE)Apr 26 2012Drafted by New England (NE): Round 1 (#25 overall) -
2021 Player Rankings
A visual look at how Dont'a Hightower ranks across the league, conference, division, and team.
Cap Hit ($0) Rank NFL: # New England Patriots: # Inside Linebacker: #
Total Cash ($0) Rank NFL: # Inside Linebacker: #
Average Annual ($0) Rank NFL: # Inside Linebacker: # -
Statistics
Season Team GA GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sacks Tackles Solo Tackles Ast Tackles FF INT 2020 NE 2019 NE 15 15 15 738 73.7 5.5 71 47 24 2018 NE 15 15 15 773 74.0 1 48 24 24 1 2017 NE 5 5 5 237 22.3 2 14 12 2 2016 NE 13 13 13 708 68.9 2.5 65 31 34 1 2015 NE 12 12 12 594 54.2 3.5 61 51 10 2014 NE 12 12 12 834 76.9 6 89 51 38 1 2013 NE 16 16 14 857 74.7 1 97 55 42 2012 NE 14 14 13 568 51.9 4 60 43 17 Totals 102 102 99 5,309 - 26 505 314 191 2 1