Former Lions linebacker Jamie Collins headed back to the Patriots

It was a clear fit upon his being available, but former Lions linebacker Jamie Collins is reportedly indeed headed back to the New England Patriots.

A soon-to-be 32-year old linebacker is not a good fit for a rebuild, and the Detroit Lions acknowledged as much by trying to trade Jamie Collins before releasing him in late-September. Now, according to ESPN’s Field Yates, Collins and the New England Patriots are “working towards” a deal.

Collins signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Lions in 2020, and if not for a contract restructure in March he might have been cut then. He started the first two games this season, with seven total tackles and a fumble recovery, then he was a healthy inactive in Week 3 before being released.

In 14 games last season for the Lions, Collins had a team-high 101 total tackles with six tackles for loss, six pass breakups, one sack and one interception.

Jamie Collins headed for third go-round in New England

Collins was taken in the second round of the 2013 draft by the Patriots out of Southern Miss, and he played for them until being traded to the Cleveland Browns during the 2016 season. The Browns let him go in March of 2019, and he spent that season back in New England (starting 15 games) before reuniting with former Patriots defensive coordinator (and now of course former Lions’ head coach) Matt Patricia in Detroit.

As Yates cited, Collins should be able to step right in and contribute for the Patriots due to his familiarity with the system. Not playing in a couple weeks isn’t ideal. But in the last game he played for the Lions, Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers, Collins was on the field for nearly every defensive snap (97 percent).

Assuming the work on a deal leads to an agreement, Collins has found a familiar and ideal landing spot. He just wasn’t a fit for the Lions anymore.