Jamie Collins Sr.

NFL trade rumors: Patriots trade Jamie Collins to Browns

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

The New England Patriots pulled off a shocking deal, trading inside linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns on Monday morning.

You want to be left with your mouth agape? Read the rest of this story. The Patriots, who are 7-1 and by far the favorite to win Super Bowl LI, have traded one of their best players to the Browns. Cleveland, which is 0-8 and in the process of stockpiling draft picks left and right, dealt a third-round compensatory pick to the Patriots in return for Collins.

This is mind-blowing, but as usual, New England has its reasons. This offseason, the Patriots dealt Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals for a second-round selection. Why? Because Jones was set to be a free agent after this season and Bill Belichick wasn’t going to re-sign him. The same likely applies to Collins, who is on the last year of his rookie deal.

For the Browns, this is a huge get. Collins is one of the best inside linebackers in football. he can both drop into coverage and run sideline to sideline, showcasing a rare group of abilities. Collins gives Cleveland someone to build its defense around, while the Patriots are left with a gaping hole in the middle of the field.

Collins, 27, has already amassed 43 tackles and a pair of interceptions this season. He had 5.5 sacks last year, in a campaign that put him on the map. A star out of Southern Miss, Collins being dealt is likely the biggest trade we’ll see before the Nov. 1 NFL Trade Deadline.