New England Patriots sign Jamie Collins: Grade, reaction and more
The reigning Super Bowl champions have again climbed back into their DeLorean. The New England Patriots have signed productive linebacker Jamie Collins.
Bill Belichick must be feeling sentimental these days.
The six-time Super Bowl champion head coach of the New England Patriots recently brought back veteran tight end Benjamin Watson via a one-year contract after more than a decade away. On Wednesday, Belichick pulled off another reunion when he signed linebacker Jamie Collins.
Watson, a first-round draft choice by the organization in 2004, was thought to have played his last NFL game. Instead of retiring, the one-time member of the Browns, Ravens and Saints returned to the team that he spent the first six seasons of his pro career with.
In the case of Collins, the Patriots brought him back less than three years after being dealt to Cleveland. Collins is rejoining a franchise that made him the 52nd overall pick in 2013. The former Southern Miss product was traded to the Browns after playing the first seven games of 2016 for Belichick’s squad. Will this be a reunion that benefits both parties?
Contract Details
Via source, Jim McBride of the Boston Globe reported on Wednesday that Collins joining the Patriots is official. Contract terms were not immediately available.
National Reaction
He’s back.......@j_collins91 #SmashBros back! pic.twitter.com/m8ufpPjRTY
— Dont'a Hightower (@zeus30hightower) May 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/NBCSBoston/status/1128771072072081410
Jamie Collins certainly had a larger impact during his time w/ the Patriots; how'd he do it?
— PFF (@PFF) May 15, 2019
Collins spent just 11.4% of his snaps in New England along the edge while he spent 31.8% in Cleveland at edge defender.
His career grade w/ each:
– NE: 90.3 overall
– CLV: 54.2 overall https://t.co/XDDwHvXn0Q
For the record, I never bought any of that freelancing crap about Jamie Collins the first time around. He was just too inconsistent to hand a contract extension, so they dealt him early like many others.
— Greg A. Bedard (@GregABedard) May 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/chatham58/status/1128747491321630720
Between 2013 and 2016, Jamie Collins was one of only four players in the NFL to have at least 12 sacks and 5 interceptions. Could he bring that same level of versatility back to New England for a second stint? #Patriots @BostonSportsBSJ https://t.co/wdYFf7SUwf pic.twitter.com/SmpFMNmtQs
— Christopher Price (@cpriceglobe) May 15, 2019
More fansided.com: 2019 NFL Free Agency Tracker
Grade
Simply put, this is a tremendous addition for the six-time Super Bowl champs and reigning NFL champions. Collins is 29 years old (he turns 30 in late October) and comes off a season in which he started all 16 games for the Browns. He led the club with 104 tackles, to go along with four sacks, two takeaways, one forced fumble and four passes defensed.
In three plus-seasons with the Pats from 2013-16, the talented defenders played in 50 regular-season games and made 41 starts. Along with his share of stops, there were 10.5 sacks, 10 forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. Add in five interceptions and 16 passes defensed and Collins is one of the league’s most complete linebackers.
Grade: A
The Patriots have been busy the last week or so adding veteran free agents such as Collins, Watson, tackle Jared Veldheer and wide receiver Dontrelle Inman to team-friendly deals. It’s adding up another productive offseason for a patient franchise that knows how to build a balanced roster.