INDIANAPOLIS — The Patriots continued to get their business affairs in order this week during the scouting combine, and there’s been a positive element involved in negotiations with their most prized free agent.

Linebacker Dont’a Hightower and the Pats have maintained a productive dialogue as they try to work toward a contract extension prior to the March 9 start of free agency, according to sources.

Still, Hightower is intrigued by the thought of hitting the open market to assess his peak value, so there remains a real chance that he becomes a free agent next week. That would not doom his future with the Patriots, so don’t be alarmed if the two sides don’t strike a Devin McCourty-style deal at the last hour.

The Patriots and Hightower are aware of each other’s contractual parameters and are trying to find a common ground, though the Pats haven’t extended a formal written proposal since last summer’s contract worth an average of $10 million per year. The back-and-forth has remained verbal in communication.

Neither side wants to publicly reveal the numbers involved, but a fair estimation is Hightower should garner a contract worth $12 million annually. He wants to earn as much as possible and his preference is to return to the Patriots, but he’ll sign elsewhere if the team doesn’t offer a financial package that is competitive with the best offer on the open market.

The Patriots also remain in steady contact with their other free agents, according to a variety of sources. They believe they made a strong offer this week to defensive tackle Alan Branch, as the 32-year-old is coming off his best season. The numbers weren’t revealed to the Herald, but the offer is believed to be worth at least $5 million annually.

It’s going to be a bit trickier for cornerback Logan Ryan and safety Duron Harmon. Ryan should garner top-corner money while Harmon could likely draw a starting-caliber contract and opportunity. Because of that, the Patriots have essentially green-lighted the Rutgers duo to explore their worth in free agency and return with their best offers.

The Patriots will then decide if they can re-sign them or just shake hands and thank them for four years of quality service.

The Pats would prefer to pay Ryan like a No. 2 corner, especially as they account for restricted free agent Malcolm Butler. The team also isn’t likely to give starting money to Harmon as their third safety, and his average annual value would probably fall beneath Patrick Chung’s $3.1 million to keep the hierarchy of the depth chart intact.

Nothing appears to have changed with tight end Martellus Bennett or defensive end Jabaal Sheard. Bennett wants to maximize his money in free agency, so he could price himself out of New England. And since Chandler Jones and Jason Pierre-Paul received franchise tags this week, Sheard is arguably the best pass rusher available in a thin crop of free agents. That could yield a payday that far surpasses his value to the Pats.

On a related note, the Patriots are expected to go hard after edge rushers in next month’s draft. Trey Flowers will clearly be the key piece at the position in 2017, and the Pats want to surround him with younger talent. They likely weren’t going to retain Chris Long before the 32-year-old announced Wednesday that he wanted to sign elsewhere. And the Pats recognize 33-year-old Rob Ninkovich is closer to the end than the beginning.

On the offensive side, slot receiver Danny Amendola has known since last spring that he’d have to slice his $7,916,668 cap hit in 2017 to remain with the team. He is open to a pay cut, but those discussions have yet to take place. Amendola shaved $3.9 million off his 2016 earnings last May.

Wide receiver Michael Floyd could return on a budget deal, but the Patriots aren’t going to overreach for him. The Pats will also continue discussions with running back LeGarrette Blount and fullback James Develin, along with some other lower-tier free agents.

And to add to their $67,257,678 in cap space, the Patriots are expected to release right tackle Sebastian Vollmer by the start of free agency to save $2.5 million. Vollmer may retire due to hip problems.

Since the NFL combine is a week later than usual, it leads right into free agency, so the Patriots are aggressively sorting through their contractual duties. They’ve still got plenty of work to do, but they’re laying a solid foundation here this week.