New York Giants top three players of the 2010s

2. Landon Collins

Taken with the first pick of the second round in 2015, Landon Collins burst onto the scene in his rookie year. He started all 16 games and was selected to the 2015 All-Rookie team while racking up 112 tackles an interception and nine passes defended along the way.

He followed up his rookie campaign with an All-Pro sophomore season. From 2016-2018, Collins was selected to three consecutive Pro-Bowls. In three of the four years that Collins suited up for the Giants, he was top five among all defensive backs in the NFL in tackles and twice in the top three.

Over his four years with Big Blue, Collins accumulated 437 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, five sacks, eight interceptions, 32 passes defended, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 13 quarterback hits while also leading the team in tackles all four seasons.

In the New York Giants lone playoff game during his tenure, the Alabama product recorded nine tackles two passes defended and a sack against Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers while playing 100% of the defense’s snaps.

The former Giants safety said he modeled his punishing style of play after former Washington Redskins safety, the late Sean Taylor. Though I looked forward to Collins getting after the quarterback and punishing receivers coming across the middle of the field every Sunday, he was sometimes painful to watch in coverage. In his final season with the Giants, opposing quarterbacks connected on 67.8 percentage for 530 yards and an astronomical 113.0 passer rating when targeting Collins as a defender.

So while I was upset to see him go to a division rival, no matter how abhorrent and detestable the said franchise may be, it might be a smart business move on the G-Men part to move on from Collins. I wish him the best (only rooting for individual success) in D.C.