Dont’a Hightower would have been the leader of the defensive front-seven and its most experienced member. Patrick Chung would have filled his normal role as the top safety/linebacker hybrid on the team. Marcus Cannon would have started at right tackle for the fifth year in a row. Brandon Bolden would have been a core special teams presence. Woulda, coulda, shoulda aside, they will all not play for the New England Patriots this year after opting out of their deals earlier this week.
Together with free agent fullback Danny Vitale and backup guard Najee Toran, the four form the group of Patriots to exercise their bargained right to sit out the upcoming season over concerns about the Coronavirus pandemic.