Browns release Jamie Collins

With the free agency signing period nearing, the Cleveland Browns already owned plenty of salary cap space and they created more with the release of veteran linebacker Jamie Collins.

The 29-year-old Collins was traded for in the middle of the 2016 season and given a four-year contract worth over ten million dollars a season after the 2016 campaign by then head of football operations Sashi Brown.

Collins played every game last season posting over 70 solo tackles, thirteen of those for loss, four sacks, and an interception- solid numbers, but nothing spectacular from a player receiving over ten million dollars for those statistics.
Collins had also shown questionable effort at times and on a team on the upswing, John Dorsey simply will not tolerate those types of problems.
The Browns will save nine million dollars on the cap by releasing Collins as the major part of his contract was frontloaded against the cap.
Collins would have counted as eleven and a half million against the cap for the Browns, had he started the season.

The Browns can't be criticized for not wanting to pay Collins such a large amount of money all things considered, but the team certainly has to add help at linebacker now with only Joe Schobert returning as a starter and one not coming off an injury as Christian Kirksey will continue to recover from his season-ending hamstring injury.
Cleveland and their abundant cap space have been connected to both of the standout free agent linebackers available in rumors as both Baltimore's C.J. Mosley and Minnesota's Anthony Barr could be objects of the Browns interest.
Both Mosley and Barr would bring an aspect of their game that the Browns could use as Barr is the superior pass rusher and slightly better in pass coverage, while Mosley is far better against the run, has been the most consistent performer and has the advantage of weakening a division rival as well as experience in the division.
Barr could bring the pass rushing ability off the rush that the Browns paid for yet never received from Jamie Collins opposite Myles Garrett, but Mosley brings the capability of covering the entire field in the run game and is the type of player that brings respect both in the locker room and from the opposition.
I'd be fine with either, but if forced to choose between the two and assuming the price is similar, I'd slightly lean towards Mosley.
The Browns have also been rumored to have shown interest in the draft's top linebacker in LSU's Devin White, although White may have taken himself out of availability for Cleveland at pick number 17 after a tremendous combine workout series.

The Browns have been flying all over Twitter last night with unnamed rumors from established NFL writers so there could be something in the works- If that's the case, I'll be here with some thoughts, of course.

Browns sign Jamie Collins

The Cleveland Browns had talked about the importance of re-signing their own players (at least those worth keeping) and were able to back up those words for a change as the Browns were able to keep Jamie Collins by Lake Erie with a four year contract.

It cost the Browns fifty million (26 of that guaranteed) and that's a little bit of an overpay,but not an insane one and the Browns by keeping Collins take a need off their draft board at a linebacker spot.
Collins finished with 48 tackles and two sacks in his eight games as a Brown and in my opinion was the teams best defensive player.

Keeping Collins in Cleveland also brings another positive to the table as the signing is a sign to players in other cities (and future draftees) that there are some positives in Cleveland,
Now,to be honest,Collins got a little more money to stay than he likely would have to go elsewhere and that had just as much (and likely more) to do with his staying,but the Browns had plenty of cap space and why not use it on a player that has proven himself as a top player?
Now,Jamie Collins isn't a impact player (although he's being paid as one),but he's a very good one and if the Browns can continue (Start?) to build a talented defense,Collins will really step to the front.
And with the possible pick of Myles Garrett,Collins could make an impact rushing the passer when he is a 3rd or 4th option on the rush and he was known as an elite level cover linebacker with the Patriots...

There is another plus to this signing coming so early in the free agency season-the Browns now could,should they so desire,use the franchise tag to keep Terrelle Pryor and keep both of their top two homegrown free agents.
This is a bigger deal than expected because when trading a 3rd round compensation pick to New England to obtain Collins,many observers wondered if the Browns could sign Collins and Pryor and if so,could they do it without using both the franchise and transition slots?
The Browns will be able to avoid using both with the signing of Collins.

The Cleveland Browns are paying more than market value to Jamie Collins,but bad teams usually have to do business that way because players are unlikely to stay or come to town otherwise.
Considering the Browns abundant room under the cap,I'm fine with the signing.

Browns trade for Jamie Collins

The Cleveland Browns indeed made a trade before the trade deadline,but the surprise was that there was talent entering the Browns complex-not leaving at as many expected..

The Browns trade for linebacker Jamie Collins of the Patriots for the compensation third rounder at the end of that round in the 2017 draft seems to make no sense for an 0-8 going nowhere,but I'm going to tell you the thought process behind this deal and even if you don't agree with it,it'll make sense with how the front office is doing things..

The Browns already have lots of picks in the 2017 (2 firsts,2 seconds,now their own third and 3 fourths) draft and feel that for this cost that Jamie Collins,a Pro Bowl linebacker is a bargain price.
When you look at the massive amount of youth on this year's team and the likelihood of least almost as many next season,the Browns could say what's one pick?
But,one could ask the question that isn't Collins a free agent at the end of the season and why wouldn't he just walk away from a losing team like the Browns?
Well,he may,but the Browns could franchise him,if they can avoid having to do that with Terrelle Pryor and if Collins leaves via free agency? Well,the Browns would get (wait for it) mostly a compensation pick in the third round of the 2018 draft as they continue to accumulate assets in that draft.
So,essentially,this is how the deal breaks down if Collins leaves-Cleveland gets to play Collins for eight games and for that right would trade a 2017 3rd for a 2018 3rd.
If Collins buys into Hue Jackson and what the Browns are trying to build,the Browns just added a Pro Bowl linebacker for a pick at the end of the 3rd round.

Another question is this-If Jamie Collins is such a good player,why isn't he still playing for the title contending Patriots?
Well,New England likely won't have the cap space to keep Collins anyway after the season,so Bill Belichick can send that proverbial message to his team that business is business to keep them on their toes while adding an asset in the third round for the next draft.
Mike Lombardi,(and his opinion means little) is reporting that Collins had not been playing within the system this year and been "freelancing" more than Belichick cared for.
That may be on this team,Collins instantly becomes the best player on the defense with 43 tackles,a sack,forced fumble and two interceptions after leading the Patriots in tackles for the last two seasons.
Collins is a three down linebacker that can rush the passer and excel in pass coverage,so the Browns are getting an excellent player to build around,if he can be retained.

The trade might not make sense to some,but I'm intrigued and it'll be interesting to see how Jamie Collins attitude is coming to Cleveland.
If motivated,he could raise his demand on the free agent market with a strong final eight games and if not cost himself some dollars as well.
For the Browns,it's pretty low risk when you consider everything involved and how the Browns are thinking right now.
Collins will likely cost a bundle and the Browns may not to decide to pay that much when they are this far away from contention.
For me,I get it-I just want to win one game and hopefully Jamie Collins is a step forward in getting that one win...