New England Patriots: Revisiting Preseason Predictions

LINEBACKER CONTRACT EXTENSION:

I SAID THEN:

Because Collins’ salary and cap hit is so low (less than $1 million) this season, he will likely be the prime candidate for the franchise tag. Hightower remains the most likely of the duo to get his money and extension this year as he is in his fifth year option and is due and counts almost $8 million against the salary cap this year.

I SAY NOW:
What a difference four months makes. Instead of extending Collins the Patriots shipped him to Siberia in Cleveland. It was a shocking move as Collins had one of his best starts to the season through three weeks and was dominant against Houston on Thursday night in week two.

Collins went from a team that was 6-1 and finished the season on a team which went 1-7 down the stretch. Supremely talented and athletic, someone will give Collins the $10 million per season long-term contract he is looking for in free agency, he is just too good. However, the Patriots obviously felt his disappearances in run defense and coverage (basically, when not blitzing) was too big a negative to keep.

With the franchise tag available for use with Collins and Chandler Jones gone, the Patriots can use it on Dont’a Hightower if they cannot hammer out a deal. Best case scenario: sign Hightower and franchise tag Martellus Bennett to try and wring another year of high-level production (still in a contract year) without paying him a long-term deal and risk upsetting Rob Gronkowski.