Ranking the top 25 NFL free agents this offseason
By Ian Wharton
12. Landon Collins, S, New York Giants
Trying to characterize Landon Collins’ game in the pass-happy NFL is difficult. He’s a very good player in his role, but his 2016 season with five interceptions and four sacks proved to be more of a fluke than his true impact. Still only 25, Collins makes great sense for teams willing to keep him closer to the line of scrimmage.
He’ll be asking for a lot, but he’s a prime candidate to get an inflated salary in money via bonuses and incentives unlikely to be paid because of his role. Box safeties with limited coverage talent can be useful with the right surrounding cast. But he might be a minor disappointment signing if he’s asked to be more of a playmaker on passing downs.
Projected deal: Five years, $50 million
Best fits: New York Giants, Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers