Giants safety Landon Collins may or may not have cleaned out his locker earlier today, but the 25-year-old defensive back has already made it clear he doesn’t want to be franchise-tagged this offseason. Indeed, Collins may sit out spring and summer practice sessions if he is franchised, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (link via Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com).
The impact of Collins holding out for a long-term deal isn’t exactly clear. For one, many franchise players refuse participate in spring/summer workouts and practices as a way of expressing their frustration with the franchise tender, but few (Le’Veon Bell aside) actually sit out the season. Second, Collins is facing a four-to-six month recovery period after undergoing December surgery for a torn labrum, so he probably won’t be allowed to be on the field until the summer anyway.
The Giants seemingly have expressed no interest in working out a long-term agreement with Collins (reports as far back as November and as recently as this afternoon suggest as much). Therefore, New York has until March 5 to decide whether it wants to deploy the franchise tag — at a cost of around $11.2MM — on Collins.
Collins, a second-round pick in the 2015 draft, has been a full-time starter for the Giants since entering the league. A two-time Pro Bowler, Collins posted 96 tackles, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble in 2018 while grading as the NFL’s 39th-best safety, per Pro Football Focus.
If he does reach the open market, Collins will be among the most-coveted safeties in a crowded positional field. Among the other safeties scheduled to hit free agency are Earl Thomas, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Lamarcus Joyner, Adrian Amos, Tyrann Mathieu, and Tre Boston.
I’m no CBA expert, but have always heard that a team may only utilize the Franchise Tag if it is doing so, with the good faith attempt to negotiate a long-term contract. So if the Giants already publicly said they have no intention of a long-term deal, they would be violating the CBA if they tag him.
I had the same thought
What’s the definition of a long term deal? 5 years or more? Giants could argue we were looking at a 4 year deal. I’m sure the teams know how to avoid that fine print
Why don’t they work something out and extend him a deal? He’s still only 25. That was the old Giants regime that was known for letting go of good players after their rookie contracts. They shouldn’t make the same mistake.
Agreed. I’m sure teams are also trying to loophole their way around that by saying they’re offering a long term deal but by completely low balling on the money being offered.
Worked for Bell
It cost Bell over 14 million to gain his freedom and that money is gone and he can never make it up. He is one year older so he can sell it anyway he wants, but the body has only so many years at RB. Bell should have played at least 1/2 a season and they probably would not have Franchised him. If Bell doesn’t get at least 30 million In guranteed money, he totally screwed up.
He should of suck it up. Played well and get him money in the off season if not with pit.
S a r c a s m
“The body has only so many years at RB” is spot on, which is why it made sense for him to sit out. You can look at it from the stance that he hasn’t played in a year and is rusty. But you can also look at it from the stance that he hasn’t taken the hits and blows that come with being a RB for at least one season. Unless he has something chronic, Bell should be 110% healthy with no significant sores/bumps/bruises…its just about getting in game shape now.
One player the Giants should really make an effort to keep and get him a solid FS, which has been sorely lacking.
They should Franchise Him and then trade him.
Can they tag him, and then work out a deal while he recovers? they are lacking good young talent in the defensive backfield.
Of course he will
Tag and trade
Rarely ever works
So he just going to pull a bell. Look how well that work out for him.
It didn’t backfire against him. He saved his body from a season of 300+ touches and getting banged up. He didn’t get paid but short term money wasn’t the issue for him, he was looking for long term security which is what Pittsburgh wasn’t too interested in giving him.