NFL free agency 2020: Best linebackers available

3. OLB Jamie Collins (New England Patriots)

He’s been one of the better all-around linebackers in the league and he’s done it with two different franchises. And these days, he is (subscription required) Pro Football Focus’ 14th-ranked linebacker. This past season, seven-year pro Jamie Collins was back with the team who made him a second-round draft choice in 2013.

There were three-plus seasons for the talented prospect from Southern Miss before he was dealt to the Cleveland Browns. He was a productive player in half a season for his new team but one year later, he wound up playing in only six contests and wound up suffering a season-ending knee injury in mid-November. He would bounce back in a big way in 2018 under defensive coordinator/then interim head coach Gregg Williams. There was a team-high 104 tackles, to go along with four sacks, four passes defensed and a pair of takeaways. But he would be released by the club last March.

He would return to New England and was the leading tackler on the NFL’s top-ranked defense. There were 80 stops as well as a club-high seven sacks. Collins picked off three passes – returning one for a score – knocked down seven passes, forced three fumbles and recovered one as well.

It will be interesting to see if the Patriots will bring back both Collins and fellow linebacker Kyle Van Noy (more on him later). Keeping both big-play defenders may be easier said than done although the club (via Spotrac) has some cap room to play with. Stay tuned.

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