Giants news, 12/6: Franchise tag for Landon Collins?

Landon Collins will have surgery to repair his torn labrum. That much we know. What happens after that, and whether or not he will be in a New York Giants uniform next season, is anybody’s guess.

Collins can be a free agent at the end of the season. A four- to six-month timetable for recovery would make it possible for Collins to be ready to participate in OTAs next spring. Will he be doing that with the Giants, or with a new team?

Cap analyst and former sports agent Joel Corry expects the Giants to use the franchise tag on Collins. Corry writes:

Collins established himself as one of the game's best safeties during a 2016 campaign in which he earned first-team All-Pro honors. He hasn't done anything to dispel that notion over the last two seasons. Collins' 428 tackles are best among safeties since he entered the NFL in 2015. The Giants rebuffing inquires about Collins as the Oct. 30 trading deadline approached was a good indication that his future is New York although negotiations for a new contract haven't started. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Giants intend on franchising Collins if a long-term deal isn't signed by the end of the tag designation period in early March.

Corry estimates the 2019 franchise tag for safeties to be $11.287 million, based on a $190 million salary cap projection.

In my view, this would be a sensible outcome. Coming off an injury, and off a 2017 season where he was limited by an ankle injury much of the year and ended up with a fractured forearm, Collins’ value on the open market might not be what it could be. The tag would allow the Giants to keep a talented player without making a long-term, high-dollar commitment. It would also give Collins a year to increase his market value.

Injury updates

The Redskins made a number of roster moves Wednesday to replace injured players. The Giants announced that Landon Collins will be placed on IR and undergo surgery for a torn labrum. Here is the rest of the Giants’ injury report from Wednesday:

Did not practice

LB Lorenzo Carter (hip)
LB Tae Davis (ankle)

Limited participation

TE Evan Engram (hamstring)
LB B.J. Goodson (neck)
WR Sterling Shepard (rib)

Michael Thomas: Sean Chandler “has it all”

Undrafted free agent rookie Sean Chandler will likely see increased playing time with Collins out. Veteran safety Michael Thomas, who will probably split time with Chandler, is impressed with the former Temple Ow, saying he “has it all.”

“He has enough size to play at the position, but he’s very quick, very aggressive style,” Thomas said. “He’s willing to tackle, he can cover well so he has all the talent, he’s just got to keep improving and learning the pro game now compared to what he did in college and once he gets that, I’m excited for his career.”

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