One of the most high-profile free agents has a new home.
NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reports that safety Landon Collins is expected to sign a six-year, $84 million contract with the Washington Redskins. Collins will receive $45 million in guarantees over the first three years.
Collins' $14 million average is the highest ever for a safety, surpassing Eric Berry’s $13 million per year from the Chiefs. The Redskins figure to be very tight on cap space with the move, with Over the Cap estimating the team had $13.4 million to spend before the deal was announced.
The move is somewhat of a surprise considering the Redskins already boast cornerback Josh Norman as one of its defensive backs, but the safety position was a need after the release of DJ Swearinger.
In a cool bit of trivia, Collins will occupy the spot of former Redskins safety Sean Taylor, whose number Collins wears. Taylor was tragically shot dead in 2007 aged just 24-years-old.
The 25-year-old Collins led the Giants with 96 tackles last season and his 437 since entering the NFL in 2015 are the most among safeties in that time. Collins has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons, and was a first team All-Pro player in 2016.
COVER PHOTO: Washington Times
