Normally the NFL trade deadline (Tuesday at 4 PM est) has as much action as the movie The Notebook, but, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, on Monday the New England Patriots agreed to trade linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns for a compensatory third-round pick. Next year’s draft is the first in which compensatory picks can be traded.
New England Patriots Trade Jamie Collins to Cleveland Browns
Collins, 27, had tallied 43 tackles, two interceptions and one forced fumble in seven games for the Patriots this season. Collins, a second-round pick in 2013, went to his first Pro Bowl last season after notching 5.5 of his 10 career sacks.
Collins has started 41 of 50 career games. But the talented linebacker was not on the field for New England’s Week six contest against the Cincinnati Bengals due to a hip injury. Collins just came off the injury report on Friday after being listed on it for the past two weeks.
The trade is surprising from the Patriots perspective, but Bill Belichick has never been one to hold onto a player too long or to lose a player to free agency. From the Browns viewpoint this deal makes perfect sense. Hue Jackson‘s team has more than enough draft picks, and they are sorely lacking in many phases of the game, and they desperately need help on defense, particularly at pass ruser and linebacker.
Collins is in the final year of his rookie contract and will become a free agent this off-season. The Browns are going nowhere fast this season, and they are presumably hoping that Collins will contribute immediately and remain with them long-term and be a huge building block to their future.
It will be very intriguing to see how quickly the Browns start contract negotiations with Collins, with his value probably being over $50 million.
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