The Pittsburgh Steelers are hosting linebacker Dont’a Hightower for a free agency visit, and according to one report things are going swimmingly.
Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network reports there are some “positive vibes” out of Steelers headquarters during Hightower’s visit. However, as a cautionary tale, she also notes the Steelers were feeling good about free agency visits with cornerbacks they were high on as well, only to see them sign with other teams.
Hightower is a high-profile free agent, at the top of the remaining heap after the first big wave from the first days of free agency in 2017. He has played for the New England Patriots since being selected by the franchise in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft out of Alabama, helping bring two Lombardi Trophies back to Foxborough.
The Patriots would love to get Hightower back into the fold and have the funds to make it happen. But as is typical with this organization, they also surely have a cap they won’t exceed in contract negotiations. Hightower has already visited with the New York Jets, who pulled out all the stops and even threw him a birthday party while he was in the Big Apple.
Now the linebacker is in Pittsburgh, where they need a new inside linebacker now that Lawrence Timmons has bolted for Miami in free agency himself.
We’ve already laid out the reasons why Pittsburgh has been striking out so far in free agency, which you can read about here. However, landing Hightower away from the Patriots would not only serve to strengthen the Steelers but weaken their primary foe in the conference.