Giants S Landon Collins tells Ralph Vacchiano of SNY that he isn’t sure if the team even wants him back next year after they field trade offers for him before this year’s deadline.
“I don’t know,” Collins said. “Does it make me wonder? Yeah. It definitely does.”
While there has been talk that Collins could be headed for the franchise tag next if the two sides are unable to reach an agreement on a long-term deal, Collins doesn’t want to play out the 2019 season under the tag, according to Vacchiano.
“Honestly I don’t want it,” Collins said. “I know what type of player I am. I’m going to bring forth hard-work, talent, play-making abilities to the game each and every week. Why would I want to play under a one-year deal? If something happens I’m not guaranteed. And even though I’m guaranteed that for a year, I’m still not guaranteed.”
“It is what it is. If they franchise tag me I have to go from there. I can’t go nowhere. There’s not much I can do.”
The Giants could be headed for a rebuild, but Collins says they should consider doing so without him.
“It surprised the hell out of me,” Collins said. “It was a big eye-opener. If they’re rebuilding, they can rebuild without me. And I’m so young still, but they could still try to find younger and put the money elsewhere, into whatever they need to put it into to rebuild their team.”
A source tells Vacchiano that the Giants received multiple trade offers for Collins, but were actively shopping him ahead of the deadline. One of the offers reportedly included a third-round pick, which Vacchiano says is believed to have “got the Giants’ attention.” However, New York was believed to be holding out for a second-round pick.
Vacchiano’s source said that the Chiefs and Buccaneers were among the interested teams in Collins.
Collins did say that he would like to be back with the Giants otherwise he’s fine with moving on.
“Yes, I want to be here,” Collins said. “At the end of the day, I’m here with my boys, I’m glad to be here with them and I’ll finish this year out with them. If I’m here with them again I’ll be happy with it. If not, I’ve got to still move on and do my job somewhere else.”
Collins, 24, is a former second-round pick of the Giants back in 2015. He is entering the final year of his four-year, $6.12 million rookie contract that included $4.459 million guaranteed and stands to make a base salary of $1,269,621 for the 2018 season.
In 2018, Collins has appeared in eight games for the Giants and recorded 62 tackles, no interceptions, a forced fumble and four pass defenses.
We have him featured in our Top 25 – 2019 NFL Free Agents list.
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Unfortunately for Collins he is a Jerry Reese pick. The GMEN are in the midst of a rebuild. Regardless to what the media and GMEN brass want the fans to think. the defense is transitioning to a 3-4. The GMEN have no FS, Ogletree is horrendous in coverage, no edge rushers and the CB by committee with Jenkins isn’t working either.
The GMEN should sign the Honey Badger to replace Collins. Trade Collins and Jenkins for picks. Make Vernon a cap casualty (saving $11m). Trade Ogletree to the Cards for Buchanon. A DLine of Hill, Tomlinson and McIntosh seems like a start on the front. A LB crew of Martin, Goodson, Buchanon and Carter would be very athletic to say the least. Try to draft LSUs Williams or UGAs Baker to man the corner with NFLSD pick Beal. Sign or draft a combo safety to match with Mathieu.
And don’t forget the offense. New pick up Brown at RG will be a keeper. Draft or sign a LT and RT. Draft a QB (Herbert, Lock or Finley). Try to move Solder, I know the contract is the sticking point.