According to CBS Sports contributor Josina Anderson, the New York Giants have reached a deal with safety Landon Collins.
Collins was reportedly at the Giants’ facility in New Jersey this week to pay a visit and possibly rejoin his former team. The report turned out to be accurate all the way through. He was signed with the expectation that he would fill a variety of roles in Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s tenure.
“Free agent S Landon Collins tells me he is signing with the Giants and is heading to London now to be around his new team, per (Collins),” Anderson tweeted.
Collins spent his first four seasons from 2015 to 2018 in the NFL with the Giants. He was drafted 33rd overall in the 2015 NFL Draft out of Alabama. Collins spent three seasons with Alabama and was a key part of Alabama’s first College Football playoff in 2015 against Ohio State.
With New York, Collins developed to be one of the league’s best safeties. He finished third in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in the 2016 season, having 125 tackles, four sacks and five interceptions. He also earned All-Pro honors in 2016 and appeared in three consecutive Pro Bowls from 2016 to 2018.
The New York Giants are reuniting with 2015 second-round pick Landon Collins after he spent three seasons in Washington. https://t.co/GKnnEBWP0D
— TheGiantsWire (@TheGiantsWire) October 6, 2022
Stint at Washington Commanders
Collins was not re-signed by the Giants after the 2018 season despite setting numerous records with the team. He then signed a six-year, $84 million contract with the Washington Commanders.
After a strong first season on the Washington roster, Collins had a down year and missed half of the 2020 season. He tore his Achilles in Week 7 of 2020 and was out for four games last season due to injuries. A foot injury earned him a place on injured reserve for the final three games.
The Louisiana native was a Washington safety for only three seasons and never made the Pro Bowl with the team. He appeared in just seven games in 2020 and 13 games in 2021, totaling 81 tackles, 3.0 sacks, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
The Commanders then decided to waive Collins this offseason. He had been looking for a new team until he returned to the team that started his NFL career.
Free agent S Landon Collins tells me he is signing with the #Giants and is heading to London now to be around his new team, per him. @tickercominc
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) October 6, 2022
Collins’ influence on New York Giants
Aside from Collins, the Giants have recently added A.J. Klein and Jaylon Smith to their practice squad. Smith started as an active player in Sunday’s 20-12 victory over the Chicago Bears, recording six tackles. Klein was then signed by the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday and Collins filled his spot on the practice squad.
Collins’ best days as an All-Pro level player appear to be behind him, but he is expected to have a significant impact on the Giants. In his seven seasons in the NFL, he has compiled 676 tackles, 11 interceptions, 10 sacks, and seven forced fumbles.
New York is badly in need of Collins’ play, especially after both starting safety Julian Love (concussion) and cornerback Aaron Robinson (knee) were knocked out of the game. Love’s participation is still questionable for the next game. Robinson was placed on injured reserve following Sunday’s win.
The Giants will face the Green Bay Packers this week and Collins is scheduled to join the team at Tottenham Hotspurs Stadium in London but isn’t expected to play in their game against the Packers.
The Giants are signing Landon Collins as @JosinaAnderson noted. He's back. Practice squad to start. Linebacker, safety, all over the field. The kind of versatile player that Wink Martindale can deploy in a variety of ways.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) October 6, 2022