When the Cleveland Browns released linebacker Jamie Collins Sr. in early March, the veteran linebacker produced little hype on the open market. Despite his experience and athletic skills, his inconsistent outing in 2018 led teams to take a cautious approach. This, in turn, allowed the New England Patriots to pick him up in mid-May: the team that drafted him 52nd overall back in 2013 signed him to a one-year, $3.0 million contract.
Four months later, the move looks like a steal: Collins has turned into a valuable member of the Patriots’ linebacker corps, and was on the field for 83 of a possible 131 defensive snaps (63.