Ex-Patriots LB Jamie Collins lands three-year, $30 million deal with Lions
New England Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins has once again followed the money trail away from a winner, signing with the Detroit Lions.
Some things never change.
Just a year removed from being practically unemployed altogether by the NFL, free agent linebacker Jamie Collins has once again cashed in. First it was the Cleveland Browns who threw money at him, and now it’s the Detroit Lions.
Either way, you have to wonder just a bit as to where Collins’ priorities are.
Truth be told, we’ll probably never know just how much the New England Patriots offered him to stay with Bill Belichick and a winning franchise.
Heck, there’s a chance that the notoriously tight-fisted Belichick didn’t offer him anything at all even. (The Pats are already right up against the salary cap, and they’re presumably still trying to find a way to come to a long-term deal with Joe Thuney as well as a deal of some kind with Tom Brady.)
All that being said and acknowledged, it’s interesting whenever a player as talented as Collins goes from playing for a contender to a perennial loser like the Lions. Collins’ career trajectory now has seen him play for the Patriots, the Browns, the Patriots again, and the Lions.
Bleacher Report’s Megan Armstrong reported Monday night that Collins’ new deal with the Lions is for three years and $30 million, of which $18 million will be fully-guaranteed.
The move comes just hours after Collins’ fellow linebacker Kyle Van Noy agreed to a four-year deal with the Miami Dolphins for $51 million.
The Patriots’ linebacking corps now consists of Dont’a Hightower, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Elandon Roberts, and Shilique Calhoun. Chase Winovich and John Simon also offer some flexibility with regards to the position, though both are primarily used as defensive ends.
It’s also worth noting that both Roberts and Calhoun are also unrestricted free agents who could ink deals elsewhere before all this is said and done.
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All in all, while it’s a nice story to see Collins revitalize his career after an uninspiring stint with the Browns, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him fade back to obscurity with the Lions — even after getting reunited with former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and former defensive end standout Trey Flowers there.
Safety Tavon Wilson, cornerback Justin Coleman, wide receiver Danny Amendola, right tackle Dan Skipper, and center Russell Bodine all have ties to the New England organization as well.