This Redskins offseason reminds Landon Collins of his second year with the New York Giants. In 2016, the Giants signed defensive end Oliver Vernon, defensive tackle Damon Harrison and cornerback Janoris Jenkins in free agency. They used the draft to bolster their secondary with first-rounder Eli Apple and third-rounder Darian Thompson.
The acquisitions worked. The Giants went 11-5 with a top-five defense, a massive improvement from 6-10 the year prior.
“They helped us tremendously,” Collins said.
It’s not a perfect parallel. The Giants’ trio of free agents cost more than $100 million in guarantees — a price tag that Washington didn’t come close to spending this spring.