New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman spoke this week at the NFL Combine about the Landon Collins contract situation.
One of the lingering issues surrounding the New York Giants this offseason is what they ultimately decide to do with star safety Landon Collins. The All-Pro defensive back’s four-year rookie contract is up. He will be looking for a long-term deal, and the Giants just don’t have the money to provide that right now.
The Giants could franchise tag him for the 2019 season and look to structure a long-term deal next offseason. However, that would also be an expensive move. The tag would give Collins $11.2 million for 2019, and the Giants only have a salary cap of around $27 million.
At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana on Wednesday, Giants GM Dave Gettleman spoke to the media about this exact situation.
“Here’s what everybody’s got to understand,” Gettleman said. “You got 53 players on your club and you got a salary cap. You don’t have 53 silos. Decisions like this cannot be made in a vacuum, you can’t do it.”
Gettleman also mentioned that the Giants front office is “still evaluating” a franchise tag for Collins.
A report came out last week that Collins actually “cleaned out his locker” at the Giants facility. This put the idea in everyone’s head that he was done in New York. However, that turned out to be untrue, as Collins was only cleaning out things that he didn’t need.
Giants head coach Pat Shurmur spoke about the report at the combine on Wednesday.
“I haven’t sensed the report, I think it was reported with way more drama than what actually happened,” Shurmur stated.
Collins led the Giants with 96 combined tackles in 2018, and he only played in 12 games. He suffered a shoulder injury in a week 13 win over the Chicago Bears. He eventually was sidelined for the final four games of the regular season. However, Collins did still make his third career Pro Bowl.
If the Giants and Collins are able to reach a deal with the franchise tag, I think it would be a great thing for the organization. Collins has proved over the last few seasons that he’s a prime asset to the Giants defense.
They need to figure something out quickly though, as the deadline for franchise and transition tags is Tuesday, March 5.
