Despite all the noise surrounding pending free agent safety Landon Collins, the most likely outcome remains him being franchise-tagged by the Giants, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Collins cleared some personal items out of his Giants locker on Wednesday, and at least one report suggested he’s not expecting to return to New York. However, just because the Giants haven’t expressed any interest in extending Collins for the long-term doesn’t mean the club doesn’t want to retain him for at least 2019.
Big Blue can keep Collins around for at least one more season via the franchise tender, which will cost roughly $11.2MM for safeties. Collins, however, has been adamant that he’s not in favor of receiving the tag, and he may even be willing to sit out spring and summer practice sessions in order to prove his point. If the Giants do franchise Collin, they’ll have until July 15 to hammer out an extension.
Collins, a second-round pick in the 2015 draft, has been a full-time starter for the Giants since entering the league. A two-time Pro Bowler, Collins posted 96 tackles, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble in 2018 while grading as the NFL’s 39th-best safety, per Pro Football Focus.
Giants should just resign him since the tag is more than what his first year cap hit would be. He is the only bright spot on the defense and a tag would only extend the decision on whether or not to keep him for the long haul. Which I think is a no doubter.
These franchise tags have got to stop and even bigger holdouts except your damn contracts! Collins plz stay in NY
Bell screwed himself out of 14 million dollars that he can never get back. He was too stubborn and should have come in for at least 8 games so if doesn’t get 30 million guaranteed, it was even more of a stupid move. Now he is out of shape and trying to demand top dollar in a league that values RB’s the second lowest next to TE’s. Even S are valued higher. With that said, if Collins holds out and takes Bell’s route, its money he can never recover. The next CBA they have to address the Franchise Tag because it gives the team too much power. I think if a team uses the Franchise Tag, it becomes a two year guaranteed deal based on the top 5 salaries at that position. This way, it would give an incentive for a player to sign it and gives a team a moment of pause to Franchise a player because now they have to give 2 years at a very high number.