Linebacker Dont'a Hightower is set to become a free agent on March 9 after the New England Patriots informed the former Alabama All-American's agents that they won't use their franchise tag on him by the Wednesday deadline.
Hightower has spent his five NFL seasons with the Patriots and helped New England win two Super Bowls. But when the NFL's 2017 business year opens at 3 p.m. CST March 9, he'll be free to sign with any team.
The franchise tag could have prevented that, but it also would have obligated the Patriots to pay Hightower the average salary of the five highest-paid linebackers in the NFL for the 2017 season - a figure that's expected to be about $15.