Landon Collins Redskins Career Overview
Landon Collins joined the Washington Redskins as a safety in 2019 after signing a six-year contract worth up to $84 million with $50 million guaranteed, making him one of the highest-paid defensive players on the roster at the time. He played for the Redskins from 2019 through 2021, appearing in 38 regular-season games and starting 36 of them while recording 208 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble over that three-year span. His tenure with the team ended when he was released in March 2022 as part of roster restructuring moves, and he subsequently signed with the New York Giants, where he continued to play through the 2023 season. Collins, a former Alabama standout and third-round pick by the New York Giants in 2015, brought Pro Bowl-level production to Washington during his time there, though injuries and scheme changes limited his overall impact relative to his contract value. His Redskins career is often cited in discussions about NFL defensive contracts and cap management, with detailed salary figures and cap hits tracked on sites like Spotrac, which provides a full breakdown of his deal with Washington here.
The Washington Redskins, now known as the Washington Commanders, were in the middle of a defensive rebuild during Collins' tenure, and his signing was intended to provide veteran leadership at the safety position alongside players like D.J. Swearinger and Su'a Cravens. Collins started 13 games in 2019, 13 games in 2020, and 10 games in 2021, with his production declining in his final season as he dealt with a foot injury that limited his practice participation and game readiness. The team released him with a failed physical designation, which removed $5.5 million in cap space from their 2022 obligations and allowed them to pursue younger defensive options. His time with Washington remains a key chapter in his career narrative, often referenced in articles about NFL player contracts and the balance between talent acquisition and financial flexibility.
Landon Collins Current NFL Status and Recent Career
After leaving Washington, Landon Collins signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants in 2022 and played in 14 games that season, contributing 54 tackles and 2 passes defensed as a rotational safety behind Austin Riley and Jabrill Peppers. He entered the 2023 season as a veteran depth piece but was placed on injured reserve in November 2023 with a hamstring injury, ending his year after 6 games and 18 tackles. Collins became a free agent again in March 2024, and as of the latest available roster updates, he has not signed with a new NFL team, leaving his current status as a free agent searching for a roster spot at the safety position. His most recent on-field production shows a player whose peak years came earlier in his career, with his 2017 season with the Giants representing his best statistical year at 91 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 1 touchdown.
NFL analysts and beat reporters have noted that Collins' market value has decreased since his Redskins contract, with his current free-agent status reflecting the league's shift toward younger, faster safeties and the toll that injuries have taken on his availability. His career totals through the end of the 2023 season include 438 tackles, 10 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and 1 sack over 92 regular-season games, per Pro Football Reference, which maintains a full statistical profile of his career here