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Why the Redskins should try to trade for Dont’a Hightower

By Damien Bartonek

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 17: Dont'a Hightower #54 of the New England Patriots looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 17, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 17: Dont'a Hightower #54 of the New England Patriots looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 17, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 04: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on from the sideline during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 04: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on from the sideline during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

Why would New England trade Dont’a Hightower?

Coach Bill Belichick is synonymous with the phrase “get rid of a player a year early rather than a year late”. Potentially, they could be doing that by trading “Zeus” Hightower.

Hightower recently turned 30 back in early March and entering the final year of his four-year, $35 million dollar he signed back in 2017.

Coach Belichick has traded numerous stars when they’ve hit the 30-year mark or have gotten close to it. Whether it be for age concerns or contractual debates, Belichick isn’t afraid to trade anybody for the right compensation.

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Guys like Richard Seymour, Logan Mankins, Jaime Collins, Chandler Jones, and Ty Law have all be traded before they lost value. They’re all talented players, but they’re guys Belichick didn’t hesitate to move due to both age and/or contractual demands.

That’s the intriguing part. New England and Hightower haven’t made any progress on a new contract. Hightower has been on record stating back in 2019 he wasn’t willing to take a pay cut then, and certainly, in the final year of his contract, he won’t be taking one now.

With his feelings known, and the Patriots unwilling to make any sort of progress on a new contract, Belichick may try to test the waters on a potential trade involving the two-time Pro Bowler.

It’s up to the Redskins to apply pressure on the situation. If New England and Hightower are unwilling to make progress on a contract, Belichick and Robert Kraft certainly will look for any sort of compensation for a player entering the final year of his deal.

If the time comes where it looks like there will be no way a new deal will come into play, the Patriots will be willing to move off their stud linebacker. It’s in the DNA of Bill Belichick to always evolve, to make the most out of every situation and every player, whether they’ll be here for multiple seasons or just a couple of games.

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