Jamie Collins to Browns: Latest Trade Details, Comments and Reaction

The New England Patriots have traded linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a compensatory draft pick, the Browns announced Monday.

Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported the deal. Doug Kyed of NESN noted the NFL wire said the trade was for a 2018 conditional fourth-round pick, adding that it is "likely" a 2017 third-round pick if the Browns get a compensatory pick for Collins and the 2018 pick if not.

Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reported the Browns waived tight end Connor Hamlett to make room for Collins.

Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown spoke on the deal in the team release:

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We are always looking for ways to improve our roster by acquiring talent and the trade deadline sometimes grants you that opportunity. Jamie Collins is a talented-tough-young-playmaker that our coaches and personnel staff think can be a great fit for our defense. We feel really good about being able to add him to our team and look forward to getting him into our building and having him work with our coaches.

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"I'm not the type to pout about anything," Collins said Wednesday, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. "This is my new home. This is my focus. I'm ready." Collins said the Browns organization has more of a family atmosphere, but indicated he does feel like he is auditioning or 31 other teams in the league since he is still in a contract year, per Cabot.

According to Cabot, Collins denied ever receiving an $11 million a year contract offer from the Patriots and said he did not ask to make the same amount of money as Broncos linebacker Von Miller. 

Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reported while Collins did not receive an official offer with the $11 million annual figure, that is the number that was discussed verbally in negotiations.

Head coach Hue Jackson also commented on the move:

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Collins is a really good football player and we're excited to be able to add a player like him to our team. He's played at an extremely high level with toughness and playmaking ability for his entire career. We look forward to him being an important piece of our defense. The plan is for him to come in and learn our system quickly so he can make an immediate impact.

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Jackson later spoke to reporters at his news conference, stating: "Tremendous football player. ... Another sign of where we're headed." Jackson also said Collins will play in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Collins, 27, has accumulated 43 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and two interceptions in seven games with the Patriots this season. He's remained productive, which makes it intriguing that New England would trade him in the midst of a potential Super Bowl run. But several factors may have led to the decision.

For one, Collins is set to be an unrestricted free agent after the season and will command a large contract. A source told Ben Volin of the Boston Globe on Monday that the Pats were "having a lot of trouble" negotiating a long-term extension with Collins.

Per Schefter, Collins was asking for a huge deal:

Bus Cook, Collins' agent, told reporters that "we never got into any real serious discussions" regarding a long-term deal with the Patriots before the trade, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report on Monday.

While the Patriots could have used the franchise tag on Collins, that was less realistic for them than it will be for the Browns. As Dan Graziano of ESPN.com noted on Monday, the Patriots still need to agree to long-term deals with Dont'a Hightower and Malcolm Butler, who are set to become free agents this offseason (Hightower unrestricted, Butler restricted).

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday morning that the Browns will indeed look to pay Collins, even though Rapoport's understanding is Collins is "looking to eclipse Luke Kuechly's [contract, which is at $12 million per year]." 

While the Pats can use the franchise tag on Hightower if they can't reach a deal—or as leverage in contract talks—Schefter noted that Collins is a "prime candidate for Cleveland's franchise tag—if Browns don't sign him to big deal first."

That being said, breakout wide receiver Terrelle Pryor is also set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. The Browns might have to choose between the two when it comes to utilizing the franchise tag.

Interestingly, the Patriots would have been in line to receive a 2018 compensatory pick for Collins if he had left in free agency, according to Rapoport on Monday. They could have kept him for the rest of the season and let him walk in free agency, knowing they'd be compensated.

However, Rapoport added both sides are "pleased" with the deal, noting it "was time to move on." Former Browns CEO Joe Banner provided insight into Collins' link to the Browns:

Fans and other Patriots are likely to meet the trade with mixed reactions, per Tom E. Curran of CSNNE:

LeGarrette Blount was one such Patriot to express shock on Twitter:

"Jamie is arguably our best defensive player," said Patriots safety Devin McCourty to CSNNE.com following the announcement (via Pro Football Talk). "When you get a guy like Jamie who was here for four years on the team, a very productive player, to lose him is a bit shocking to everybody on the team."

One interesting point to unpack: It's possible the Patriots thought Collins' level of play was slipping. Michael Lombardi of Fox Sports made that point:

Per Andy Benoit of Sports Illustrated, rookie Elandon Roberts has played well at linebacker for the Patriots, which potentially made Collins expendable to Bill Belichick and Co.

Regardless, Collins is a huge upgrade for Cleveland's defense and improves the winless Browns immediately. He seems ready for the challenge.

"I spoke to him," Cook told Rapoport. "He's excited about getting over there."

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