Jamie Collins - Pro Football Rumors

Patriots Activate Trent Brown, Place Jamie Collins On IR

November 13th, 2021 at 3:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the first time since Week 1, Trent Brown is expected to be in uniform for the Patriots. They activated the veteran tackle Saturday, while placing Jamie Collins on IR.

Brown sustained a calf injury in New England’s opener, and the team did not place its right tackle starter on IR immediately. The Pats initially hoped Brown would come back without an IR stint, but they parked him on the injured list in early October. The seventh-year veteran is now back but has certainly gone through some unavailability issues since his first Pats stint.

After missing five games with the Raiders during a Pro Bowl 2019 season, Brown missed much of the 2020 season because of calf issues and multiple stays on the Raiders’ reserve/COVID-19 list. Brown has played just seven snaps this season, costing himself money through the incentives the Patriots included in his restructured contract. While the 380-pound blocker remains an imposing presence who could make a difference for a run-geared Pats team, he suddenly has much to prove during the second half of his age-28 season.

The Patriots listed Collins as doubtful for Week 10. After beginning the season with the Lions, Collins made his way back to the Pats for a third stint and made a slick interception in their Week 9 blowout win in Charlotte. Collins has played in five games since re-signing with the Pats, registering a sack and seven tackles in addition to his INT.

Minimum Salary For Patriots’ Jamie Collins

October 17th, 2021 at 4:20pm CST by Zachary Links

Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins is earning the veteran’s minimum on his one-year Patriots deal, according to Mark Daniels of The Providence Journal (Twitter link). It’s a one-year, $1.075MM pact, though the Pats are only paying him the prorated portion of $836K.

The Lions cut Collins in late September when they couldn’t find a suitable trade for him. That also left them on the hook for much of his three-year, $30MM deal. The Lions ate $11MM+ in dead money by releasing the 31-year-old (32 this week) and Collins could easily afford to take less with the Patriots.

It’s a similar story to Collins’ last deal with New England. The Browns cut Collins after paying him big bucks; the Patriots brought him back on a cheap one-year pact. He went on to deliver a seven-sack 2019, which he parlayed into a lucrative Lions contract. Between that and his early New England work — 5.5 sacks in 2015 — the Patriots are pretty jazzed about their recent pickup.

Collins notched a sack in his Week 5 debut against the Texans, his first of 2021. Now, he’ll try to help his new club top the Cowboys and advance to 3-3 on the year.

Patriots Sign Jamie Collins

October 6th, 2021 at 12:51pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots have officially signed Jamie Collins, according to agent David Canter (Twitter link). This marks the linebacker’s third stint in New England, where he’ll also reunite with longtime coach Matt Patricia.

The Lions cut Collins in late September when they couldn’t find a suitable trade for him. Clearly, his stock has cooled, but he’s just two years removed from a standout season with the Pats. He used that year as a springboard to a three-year, $30MM deal in free agency with the Lions under the Patricia-Bob Quinn power structure.

The Lions ate $11MM+ in dead money by cutting the soon-to-be 32-year-old — the Pats are going to be paying him a whole lot less. It was a similar story last time around — the Browns cut Collins after paying him big bucks; the Patriots brought him back on a cheap one-year pact.

Collins made the Pro Bowl in 2015 with 5.5 sacks and an NFL-high five fumbles for the Patriots. The Southern Miss product later turned in a seven-sack 2019. He’ll now try to turn back the clock with the Patriots, who traded Stephon Gilmore to the Panthers earlier today.

Patriots, Jamie Collins Working On Deal

October 5th, 2021 at 4:45pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots are on the verge of reuniting with Jamie Collins. The linebacker will sign with New England this week to kick off his third stint with the club (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). This deal is not quite final yet, per The Athletic’s Jeff Howe (on Twitter), but the sides are talking about a reunion.

Collins is expected to fly to New England on Wednesday morning, per Albert Breer of SI.com, who adds the team has made an offer to the veteran defender (Twitter link). Should Collins’ physical check out, it would seem he is set for his third stint with the Patriots. He is on track to reunite with Matt Patricia, who also trekked back to the Pats after being fired by the Lions.

The Lions cut Collins in late September when they couldn’t find a suitable trade for him. Clearly, his stock has cooled, but he’s just two years removed from a standout season with the Pats. He used that year as a springboard to a three-year, $30MM deal in free agency with the Lions under the Patricia-Bob Quinn power structure.

Collins was signed by the Lions’ old regime, so Dan Campbell opted for a youth movement instead. The Lions ate $11MM+ in dead money by cutting the soon-to-be 32-year-old; the Pats are getting him for a whole lot less. This is a similar development to Collins’ previous return to New England, which signed him shortly after the Browns cut bait on a big-ticket contract during the 2019 offseason.

Used as a hybrid player in New England, Collins made the Pro Bowl in 2015 with 5.5 sacks and an NFL-high five fumbles. The Southern Miss product later turned in a seven-sack 2019. And, just last year, he was credited with 101 tackles. In his limited two-game sample this season, Pro Football Focus rated him as a top-25 off-ball ‘backer.

Lions Release LB Jamie Collins

September 28th, 2021 at 3:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

No Jamie Collins trade ended up materializing, and the Lions are moving on. They officially released Collins on Tuesday afternoon.

Detroit deactivated the veteran linebacker for its Week 3 game, doing so after Dan Campbell indicated the team was shopping him. Collins will become an interesting in-season free agent, being just two years removed from a standout season in his second Patriots stint — one that led the Lions to sign him to a three-year, $30MM deal in free agency.

The Lions’ previous regime authorized that pact, and Collins quickly fell out of favor with the Campbell-Brad Holmes power structure. The Lions stand to take on more than $11MM in dead money as a result of this transaction. Since the trade deadline has not yet passed, Collins, 32 in October, is free to sign with any team. Although Collins restructuring his contract seemingly made him a more attractive trade piece, as his 2021 base salary dropped to $3.8MM, he will likely end up with a less lucrative deal elsewhere.

This marks the second time a team has cut Collins, with the Browns doing so in 2019. The Lions went down a similar path with the longtime starter, signing him to an eight-figure-per-year contract — though, Collins’ Detroit pact did not quite match his then-linebacker-record Cleveland deal from 2017 (four years, $50MM) — before cutting bait. The Patriots, who drafted Collins in the 2012 second round, signed him to a one-year, incentive-laden deal in 2019.

Used as a hybrid player in New England, Collins made the Pro Bowl in 2015 — when he registered 5.5 sacks and forced an NFL-high five fumbles — and the Southern Miss product delivered a seven-sack season in 2019. He made 101 tackles with the Lions last year. Through two games this season, Pro Football Focus rated Collins as a top-25 off-ball ‘backer.

With Collins a healthy scratch, the Lions used fourth-round rookie Derrick Barnes alongside offseason pickup Alex Anzalone against the Ravens.

Latest On Lions’ Jamie Collins

September 23rd, 2021 at 10:29am CST by Zachary Links

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.

Lions Shopping LB Jamie Collins

September 22nd, 2021 at 4:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The new Lions regime is looking to trade Jamie Collins. The team has taken calls on the veteran linebacker, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link), and intends to use younger players on its defensive second level the rest of the way.

Signed during the Lions’ Bob Quinn–Matt Patricia regime, Collins is attached to just a $3.8MM base salary this season and is under contract through 2022. The Lions gave Collins a three-year, $30MM deal in 2020 and restructured it in March. This reworking figures to make Collins a bit more appealing on the market.

The Lions held Collins out of practice today, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, providing a potential indication a move could happen soon. They would take in more than $11MM in dead money by trading Collins.

Collins, 32 in October, is familiar with the trade block. The Patriots dealt him to the Browns ahead of the 2016 deadline. Collins played in Cleveland through the 2018 season before re-signing with the Pats during the ’19 offseason. His bounce-back season with New England led to another big-ticket contract.

Detroit has used Collins as a starter in each of its first two games, but the team has begun a rebuild and would stand to benefit from giving younger talents more time. After his strong 2019 season, Collins notched his fourth 100-plus-tackle slate in 2020 by registering 101. He also forced three fumbles last year.

The Lions shifted to a 3-4 look this year, moving Collins to an inside role. They also signed Alex Anzalone, who joined new DC Aaron Glenn in coming north from New Orleans, and drafted Derrick Barnes in the fourth round. A Collins trade would open the door for more Barnes playing time. Through two games, Pro Football Focus slots Collins 24th among off-ball linebackers. A contender in need at the position could certainly do worse. This year’s trade deadline is Nov. 2.

This Date In Transactions History: Browns Release Jamie Collins

March 6th, 2021 at 12:36pm CST by Ben Levine

In January of 2017, the Browns made Jamie Collins one of the highest-paid linebackers in the NFL. Two years later, the organization moved on from the Pro Bowler. On March 6, 2019, Cleveland released the veteran linebacker.

Collins, of course, spent the first three-plus seasons of his career with the Patriots, earning a Super Bowl ring and a Pro Bowl appearance. Despite his production, New England wasn’t too eager to hand the impending free agent the sizable contract he desired. So, in October of 2016, the Patriots traded Collins off to Cleveland. In return, New England received a third-round pick, a selection that’d ultimately pair with a first-rounder to acquire Brandin Cooks (and a fourth-rounder, which was ultimately forfeited due to Deflategate) from the Saints.

Collins continued producing down the stretch of the 2016 season, and the Browns decided to open their check book for him during the following offseason. Cleveland inked the linebacker to a lucrative four-year, $50MM pact, including $26.4MM in guaranteed money, making him the highest-paid traditional linebacker in the NFL. Collins struggled with injuries during his first full season with the Browns, appearing in only six games. However, he managed to appear in every game during the 2018 campaign, finishing with 104 tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble. Despite the solid numbers, Collins graded out as just the No. 58 ranked LB in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.

The Browns apparently recognized that Collins wasn’t living up to his lofty contract. The team was reportedly looking to move him during the 2018 trade deadline, and they spent the early parts of the 2019 offseason shopping him around. The front office couldn’t find a taker, forcing them to cut bait with the veteran. The move ultimately saved the organization $9.25MM in cap room versus just $2.5MM in dead money.

Predictably, Collins ended up landing back in New England for the 2019 season, starting 15 games and finishing with a career-high seven sacks. That performance earned him a three-year, $30MM contract with the Lions, where he reunited with former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia. The 31-year-old started all 14 of his games in 2020, finishing with 101 tackles, one sack, and three forced fumbles.

Is there a lesson to be learned from all this? Eh, maybe, but it wouldn’t be some new revelation. If a team’s so willing to move on from a Pro Bowler at the end of their rookie deal, that’s probably an indication that the team doesn’t believe the player will be worth his second contract. There were already reports that Collins was freelancing on defense during his final half-season in New England, leading to questions about the player’s commitment to winning.

The Browns not only ponied up financially for Collins, but they also gave up assets to acquire his half-season before free agency. Sure, Cleveland’s probably not kicking themselves over a lost third-rounder (a pick that eventually turned into Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson), and the organization is two front offices removed from that 2016 administration. Still, if the organization could receive a mulligan on the trade and contract, they’d probably take it.

Lions Restructure Jamie Collins’ Deal

March 5th, 2021 at 3:09pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have restructured Jamie Collins‘ contract, as Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Collins will still earn $9MM as scheduled, except with the addition of some voidable years. The exact new cap number is not yet clear, but the linebacker will come in at a lower figure than his slated $11.3MM.

Collins reunited with old Patriots pal Matt Patricia last offseason. Even though Patricia is out of the picture, Collins will be staying put. He still effectively has two years to go on his initial three-year, $30MM deal.

The 31-year-old (32 in October) logged a career-high seven sacks in 2019 for the Pats, plus 81 total tackles, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles. In his first Lions season, Collins did less pass rushing, but did record 101 stops.

The Lions still have some work to do on that side of the ball, such as finding a replacement for cornerback Desmond Trufant. Meanwhile, they’ve already begun to shape their wide receiver group. Tyrell Williams agreed to a one-year deal this week — the Lions hope that he’ll be serving as the WR2, behind Kenny Golladay.

LB Jamie Collins Signs With Lions

March 16th, 2020 at 8:40pm CST by Ben Levine

Jamie Collins is reuniting with Matt Patricia. The free agent linebacker has signed with the Lions, reports Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com (via Twitter). It’s a three-year deal worth $30MM, including $18MM guaranteed, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link).

Following a two-plus year stint with the Browns, Collins reunited with the Patriots last offseason on a one-year deal. The 30-year-old ended up setting a career-high with seven sacks to go along with 81 tackles, three interceptions and three forced fumbles. Collins played under Patricia during his first stint in New England.

We’ve heard several times (including earlier tonight) that the Saints were pursuing the veteran linebacker. The Patriots were also hoping to retain their former second-round pick. Ultimately, Collins presumably decided to take the money and the opportunity to team up with his former coordinator.

The Lions were busy this morning, handing out a massive contract to former Eagles offensive tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Tonight, they’ve clearly shifted their focus to the defensive side of the ball.