According to a source, the Jets have zeroed in on Patriots free-agent linebacker Dont'a Hightower. The only problem is, so has Bill Belichick.
The Patriots reportedly want to re-sign the two-time Super Bowl champion, who made his first Pro Bowl last year.
Hightower, who turned 27 on Sunday, was a first-round pick of New England in 2012. Last season, he was named a team captain and finished with 65 tackles, 2 { sacks and two passes defensed. He's totaled 17 sacks in his five years in New England.
The Jets' interest in Hightower also raises questions about 33-year-old David Harris' future with the team. The veteran inside linebacker is the longest-tenured Jet.
In 2015, Harris signed a three-year, $21.5-million deal that included $15 million guaranteed. He's due to earn a base salary of $6.5 million in 2017, but the Jets would save that amount if they release him.
