The New York Giants have informed safety Landon Collins that they won’t be implementing the franchise tag on him.
Looks like Landon Collins‘s career as a New York Giants employee is sadly coming to an end.
On Tuesday, per a report from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, the Giants informed Collins that they won’t be franchise tagging him. Collins will thus officially become a free agent on March 13.
The #Giants have now informed S Landon Collins that he won’t be franchise tagged, putting a top player on the free agent market, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 5, 2019
Franchise tagging Collins would’ve cost Big Blue around $11.2 million. They have cap space of $27 million this offseason and will need around $8-10 million for rookies and in-season emergencies. Collins also reportedly could’ve held out if he was franchise tagged.
The Giants’ front office simply couldn’t do it and felt parting ways was the best option in this situation.
Collins gave a farewell to the Giants’ organization Tuesday via Twitter, expressing how grateful he is to have started his career in New York.
I want to thank the Giants organization for believing in me and allowing me to have 4 great years in NY. I can’t express how great it was to play with my teammates and in one of the greatest cities in the world. I will forever cherish my time in the blue and white and the
— LANDON COLLINS (@TheHumble_21) March 5, 2019
relationships I have built in the building and in my community. Now on to the next chapter…. pic.twitter.com/nc9rhcqLKm
— LANDON COLLINS (@TheHumble_21) March 5, 2019
Collins was drafted out of Alabama in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Collins made the Pro Bowl three times from 2016-2018 and was selected as an AP All-Pro in 2016.
This past season, Collins led the Giants defense with 96 tackles through 12 games. He missed the final four games of the regular season after suffering a shoulder injury in a week 13 win over the Chicago Bears. He was selected to the NFC Pro Bowl squad, however, didn’t participate due to the injury.
Collins will most certainly find a team once the free agency period rolls around next week. I’m sure a team who has the cap space and need for a dominating safety will offer him a big contract. The Pro Bowler is about to get a huge payday.
Good luck to Collins with whomever he ends up with. He was the leader of the Giants defense since 2016, and he’ll definitely be the “defensive quarterback” for his new organization.
