Landon Collins' Numbers With the Redskins Prove His Contract Was a Huge Mistake
The Washington Redskins signed Landon Collins to be an elite defender. He joined the team on a six-year, $84 million deal and was widely expected to live up to his hype as one of the best young safeties in football.
Unfortunately, that has not been the case for Collins during his Redskins tenure. Across the 2019 season, Collins has looked more like a mid-tier safety than an elite one.
Washington signed Landon Collins from the #Giants to the biggest contract for a Safety in history, a 6-year, $84 million deal. Meaning he should be no less than top 3 at his position.
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 28, 2019
Instead, Collins is ranked as only the 41st best player and recorded 0 INTs the past 2 seasons. pic.twitter.com/XtViEHOSA8
Being the 41st best safety is fine for a rotational player. But not for someone who just received a record contract. This marks his second straight season with zero interceptions and he has only defended a combined total of eight passes in that span. After recording eight picks throughout his first three years, Collins has hit a wall in terms of production.
Collins joins Josh Norman as members of the Redskins secondary who are being grossly overpaid. Fortunately, in the case of Norman, it looks like that nightmare is just about over. Collins, on the other hand, is under contract through the 2024 season.
There is, however, a potential out in the deal that could see the Redskins part with him after the 2021 season (once he receives all of his $44.5 million in guaranteed money) for a $6 million dead cap hit.
Washington CB Josh Norman did not travel with the team to Dallas due to an illness and will not play Sunday vs. Cowboys, per source. It seems as though his time in Washington is coming to an end.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 28, 2019
All the Redskins can do now is hope that Collins improves in 2020, because it doesn't look like offloading him will be achievable in the offseason.