Dont’a Hightower will announce a Patriots draft pick this weekend

Earlier this month, the NFL unveiled that New England Patriots center David Andrews will be among a group of 64 so-called ‘NFL legends’ to announce a day two draft pick this year. In Andrews’ case, it will be one of New England’s third-round selections — the team, of course, currently owns three of them. Andrews will not be the only member of the reigning world champions to enter the stage this weekend, though.

As the league announced earlier today, Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower will also be among said group of ‘legends’: the three-time Super Bowl champion will unveil one of New England’s second-round selections. As things stand right now, this means that the 29-year-old will be on the stage either for the 56th or 64th pick tomorrow (or for both) — unless, of course, the Patriots decide to move out of round two altogether.

As opposed to former undrafted free agent Andrews, Hightower is no stranger to the draft day spotlight: the Alabama product visited the event in 2012 and was ultimately selected 25th overall by the Patriots. Following the club’s investment, he quickly established himself as a core member of New England’s defense — and locker room — and played an important role on the team’s three recent championship teams.

The territory will be a familiar one for Hightower not just because of his personal draft history: he is a native of Lewisburg, where he has a street named after him, and grew up 50 miles south of Nashville. Hightower’s first regular season game wearing a New England uniform also took place in the host city of the 2019 draft.