On Thursday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell confirmed that the team is indeed shopping linebacker Jamie Collins (Twitter link via Chris Burke of The Athletic). Campbell also says the veteran will be away from the team as they explore trade possibilities. 
Signed during the Lions’ Bob Quinn–Matt Patricia regime, Collins is set to earn in $3.8MM base salary this season. He’s also under contract through 2022, the final year of his three-year, $30MM deal pact. Collins’ base salary — reduced via restructuring earlier this year — should be manageable for interested teams. The Lions, meanwhile, would take on $11MM+ in dead money by dealing Collins.
The Lions are looking to deploy rookie Derrick Barnes in Collins’ place. He hasn’t seen a ton of significant action yet, but the Lions are eager to shake things up after their 0-2 start.
Collins, 32 in October, has been here before — the Patriots traded him to the Browns midway through the 2016 season. He returned to the Pats in 2019 and enjoyed a bounce-back season before hooking on with Detroit. He went on to notch his fourth 100-plus-tackle slate last year (101 stops) while forcing three fumbles. Still, he’s too old to be a part of the Lions’ rebuild.
Through two games, Pro Football Focus has Collins ranked No. 24 among the league’s off-ball linebackers.
He will be with the Patriots by Sunday.
And a Pro-Bowler
They already punted him once
Twice.
In a few years, this rookie class will be too old for the Lions rebuild
There’s no sense keeping a veteran in a starting role on that team if that veteran isn’t going to lead by example, and judging from the feedback I’ve seen over the last couple of days, Collins either was incompetent or mailed it in against the Packers.
32 year old LB with a recent history of lapses in effort should bring quite the haul in trade……
I doubt they think they will get a haul or even care that they won’t get one. They just want some asset rather than releasing him outright.
He quit on the team. Good move getting rid of him. Won’t get much for him though.
Dan Campbell is an energy guy. If you aren’t giving 100% you aren’t going to be there long.
He didn’t show much energy on Mon night
Knows he’s not on the the re-build wagon
Not a big loss. 6th rounder in 2023
Can’t remember a coach publicly acknowledging trade intentions before.
Yeah if that isn’t telling then I don’t know what is. You’ve got to respect Campbell’s being that forthright; it’s the polar opposite to the Belichick M.O. of listing the entire roster as questionable and never answering questions about injuries.
A rookie coach mistake. He should have listed him out with a non-descriptive injury and let his inept GM work a couple deals in the middle of the night.
come back to the Patriots!!!!
Jerry Jones should make the trade with Lawrence out
Maybe. Shouldn’t take much, maybe a 6th round pick. Collins is beefy in the trousers but the lions can’t ask for much considering that they are making this so public. He struggles outside of New England, this was proven during his brief stint in Cleveland.
Collins and a 7th for a 6th is about the Lions speed.
And… he’s been cut.