The Cleveland Browns have re-signed linebacker and now defensive cornerstone, Jamie Collins. The deal is for four years and is worth $50 million. Collins played an admittedly awful Browns defense in 2016, but he still managed to shine. Since returning to the NFL in 1999, the Browns have had trouble keeping their talent, which makes this move an eye-opener. Browns fans have every right to be excited about this move, and here’s why.
The contract extension for #Browns LB Jamie Collins: 4 years, $50M, source said. $26M in guarantees. Large.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 23, 2017
Cleveland Browns Re-Sign Jamie Collins
The Cornerstone
As the Browns look to rebuild their struggling defense, Jamie Collins is their building piece. Cleveland traded for Collins in the middle of the season, and he was nearly immediately productive. After learning Ray Horton‘s defensive scheme, Collins was able to make a huge impact in Cleveland. Although the defense disgusted fans at times, Collins always jumped off the page and showcased special talent. This deal is massive for the Browns, and it says a lot about Hue Jackson‘s regime. He’s got all of his players on board with the Browns’ process.
Impact on Gregg Williams
At the end of the season, Browns executive Sashi Brown promised to be aggressive in free agency. When the Browns hired Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator, Williams promised that he would be aggressive on defense. This deal showcases that mindset. Though many analysts dismissed Cleveland’s chances of re-signing him, the Browns went and made the deal to lock up Jamie Collins. Indeed, Collins will be here for the next four years, and the deal benefits both sides. While Collins still gets the money that he wants, the Browns get their star to build around. And Gregg Williams gets his star player. Williams loves his linebackers, and Collins is a great one. While this deal’s impact on the upcoming 2017 NFL Draft does remain to be seen, the Browns will likely want to take this year to build around Collins.
Hope for the Future?
This deal shows a lot of promise for the Browns. They, for the first time in a long time, finally seem to know what they’re doing with the team. In addition, they’re playing the market aggressively, and want to make the team competitive as quickly as possible. Jamie Collins is only 27, so some of his best years still remain ahead of him. Gregg Williams has his star, and the Browns have a defensive piece to rebuild around. The Cleveland Browns, finally, are moving in the right direction.
