Landon Collins is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but the New York Giants may never let him hit the open market.
When the Giants decided not to trade Collins before the 2018 trade deadline, despite reportedly receiving multiple offers, it should have been a sign that the 2016 First-Team All-Pro safety was in their future plans. Collins, who is in the building and remains a part of the team’s fabric even after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery, is confident he will be back with the Giants in 2019.
“The feeling around the room, I mean, I feel like I might be a Giant upcoming next year,” Collins said on the Michael Kay Show (ESPN Radio), via Giants Wire. “I have a gut feeling that I might still be here.”
Collins underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum in the middle of December, and according to New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur, the surgery was a success. Collins is now expected to face a recovery period that is expected to last between four and six months. This timetable will provide Collins with enough time to make it back for training camp where he should be fully cleared for contact and practices. This timetable will also make it more difficult for Collins to participate in OTAs (organized team activities) during the spring.
According to the two-time Pro Bowler, if the Giants had defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12, Collins would have made the risky decision (for his long-term health) to play out the remainder of the 2018 season with the injury in hopes of helping his team make an improbable playoffs run.
“Landon Collins told the Michael Kay Show in his first interview since needing surgery on his shoulder that he was forced to make a “career decision,” ESPN’s Jordan Raanan Tweeted. “There was potential for more damage if he continued playing. He would have “definitely considered” if the Giants had beaten the Eagles.”
Collins is set to hit unrestricted free agency this March after completing the fourth and final season of his rookie contract. However, the Giants can prevent him from ever reaching the open market where he can negotiate with other teams if they decide to place the franchise tag on him.
In the past, the Giants have used the franchise tag on players like Jason Pierre-Paul as a buffer to provide them more time for long-term contract negotiations. When the Giants used the tag on Pierre-Paul a few seasons back, they continue ongoing negotiations before eventually coming to terms with a long-term contract agreement that was signed prior to the start of the regular season. We believe this is the path the Giants will most likely take with Collins this offseason.
