The New England Patriots rebuilt their defensive front seven this offseason, investing considerable resources both in free agency and the draft. One of the biggest additions to the group did not come down either path, though, but rather off the Coronavirus opt-out list.
Dont’a Hightower elected to sit out the 2020 season to protect his family from Covid-19; his son Grayson Dash was born last summer at the height of pandemic uncertainty. The long-time team captain being among a league-high eight opt-outs was undoubtably a major development for a team and defense in transition. The Patriots failed to properly replace his contributions all year long.