Jamie Collins no longer is a member of the New England Patriots.
Collins’ agent, Bus Cook, on Monday confirmed a report that the Patriots had traded the Pro Bowl linebacker to the Cleveland Browns for a compensatory third-round draft pick.
Why did the Patriots pull the trigger on this stunning trade? Well, money clearly was a factor.
Collins is set to become an unrestricted free agent after this season, and his contract demands at one point rivaled those of Denver Broncos All-Pro Von Miller, a league source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Miller signed a six-year, $114.5 million deal with Denver in July that included $70 million guaranteed.
It’s unclear from Schefter’s report whether Collins still hopes to be paid as well as Miller is. The Patriots had offered Collins $11 million per year, a source told The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin, and he would make close to $15 million next season if the Browns placed the franchise tag on him.
Collins, a second-round pick of the Patriots in 2013, played in seven of New England’s first eight games this season, tallying 43 tackles, one sack and two interceptions. He played a season-low 62 percent of defensive snaps in Sunday’s 41-25 win over the Buffalo Bills, finishing with three tackles and two quarterback hits.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
