There's been puzzlement as to why the market for Dont'a Hightower never seemed to develop in free agency, and Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio may have an explanation.
Florio reports the Jets, one of Hightower's few suitors in the open market, became concerned about medical issues they discovered after giving Hightower a physical. New York's "zeal diminished" for Hightower, according to Florio, who cites a source that says New York "didn’t drop out [of the bidding] but [was] concerned."
The Patriots, conversely, "knew about any potential medical issues and were comfortable proceeding."
Florio reports the Jets' initial offer was for five years and $62 million, but after the physical "it became clear that the total dollars and (more importantly) the guarantees wouldn’t ultimately get to the point where Hightower would accept."
Florio did not specify when the injury issues were. Hightower was listed on various Patriots' injury reports with both shoulder and knee problems in 2016 and was 'questionable' for Super Bowl LI because of the shoulder.