Dont'a Hightower

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Patriots, ILB Age: 31-9d Exp: 9 Years
Drafted: Round 1 (#25 overall), 2012 College: Alabama Agent(s): Pat Dye Jr. (SportsTrust Advisors)

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Patriots – The Athletic

  • 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 $772,059, while carrying a cap hit of $12,397,059 and a dead cap value of $10,350,000.

    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 Contract details by year 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 Contract details by year 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 Contract details by year 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 Contract details by year 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 Contract details by year 31 $7,850,000 $2,500,000 $772,059 $1,275,000 $12,397,059 $10,350,000 $8,622,059($37,311,104)
    Pre-6/1 Release 2021 Dead Cap: $10,350,000 2021 Cap Savings: $2,047,059 Pre-6/1 Trade 2021 Dead Cap: $2,500,000 2021 Cap Savings: $9,897,059 Post-6/1 Release 2021 Dead Cap: $10,350,000 2022 Dead Cap: $0 2021 Cap Savings: $2,047,059 Post-6/1 Trade 2021 Dead Cap: $2,500,000 2022 Dead Cap: $0 2021 Cap Savings: $9,897,059
    2022 Free Agent Year 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: $51,470 ($875,000)
    • 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 Player Cash Earnings $390,000 $4,057,456 - - - - - $4,447,456
    2013 Player Cash Earnings $741,091 - - - - - - $741,091
    2014 Player Cash Earnings $1,092,182 - - - - - - $1,092,182
    2015 Player Cash Earnings $1,443,273 - - - - - - $1,443,273
    2016 Player Cash Earnings $7,751,000 - - - - - $16,933 $7,767,933
    2017 Player Cash Earnings $1,250,000 $10,000,000 $273,435 - - - $875,000 $12,398,435
    2018 Player Cash Earnings $5,750,000 - $820,305 - - - $625,000 $7,195,305
    2019 Player Cash Earnings $7,000,000 - $820,305 - - - $1,125,000 $8,945,305
    2020 Player Cash Earnings - - - - - - $150,000 $150,000
    2021 Player Cash Earnings $7,850,000 - $772,059 - - - - $8,622,059
    10 seasons $33,267,546 $14,057,456 $2,686,104 - - - $2,791,933 $52,803,039
    Seasons Team Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Restructure Bonus Option Bonus Incentive Total Cash
    10 seasons Player Cash Earnings $33,267,546 $14,057,456 $2,686,104 - - - $2,791,933 $52,803,039

  • Fines

    • Player contract details by year 09/12/2014, $16,537

      Roughing the Passer against Ryan Tannehill (MIA)

    • TOTAL: $16,537

  • 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 2016
    Sep 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: #
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    Statistics

    Season Team GA GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sacks Tackles Solo Tackles Ast Tackles FF INT
    2021 NE 2 2 2 102 80.3 10 6 4
    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 104 104 101 5,411 - 26 515 320 195 2 1