Ex-Patriots LB Jamie Collins agrees to three-year, $30 million deal with ex-Patriots brain trust in Detroit
Pro Bowl linebacker Jamie Collins is once again leaving the New England Patriots. However, he’s headed to a destination with plenty of familiar faces this time.
Collins is in agreement with the Detroit Lions on a three-year, $30 million deal with $18 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The move will reunite Collins with Lions head coach Matt Patricia, who was New England’s defensive coordinator during Collins’ first tenure with the Patriots.
For the #Lions and LB Jamie Collins, it’s a 3-year worth $30M, source said. The deal includes $18M fully guaranteed. A nice payday and a reunion with coach Matt Patricia.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2020
Lions continue to become Patriots West
Of course, Patricia isn’t the only person Collins will be familiar with in Detroit. Lions general manager Bob Quinn spent 15 years in the Patriots’ front office before getting hired.
On the roster, defensive end Trey Flowers, wide receiver Danny Amendola and cornerback Justin Coleman all played alongside Collins at some point in New England.
In Collins, the Lions are receiving an outside linebacker who tallied 81 tackles, three interception, seven passes defended and a career-high seven sacks last season. Collins was a Pro Bowler in 2015, but was traded to the Cleveland Browns for a third-round pick a year later with his free agency impending.
The Browns gave Collins a four-year, $50 million extension after picking him up, but dropped him two years later. Collins then went back to the Patriots on a one-year deal, re-established his value and landed with the Patriots-heavy Lions, so a thank you card to Bill Belichick might be in order.
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