After exercising the fifth-year contract option of 2012 first-round pick Dont'a Hightower on Wednesday, the New England Patriots have chosen to also exercise the one of fellow 2012 first-round pick Chandler Jones, per CBS Sports' Will Brinson:
Per source Patriots have picked up 5th year option on Chandler Jones (Dont'a Hightower too).
— Will Brinson (@WillBrinson) April 30, 2015
The story took a backseat to the draft-hullabaloo yesterday but is an important one nevertheless because it means that two cornerstones of the Patriots' defense – Jones and Hightower – are now under contract until after the 2016 season.