Does Giants safety Landon Collins make sense for the Chiefs?

Former Giant safety Landon Collins will be entering free agency, and the Kansas City Chiefs are looking for a safety. Does a connection make sense?

The New York Giants have made their decision. They will allow three-time Pro-Bowl safety Landon Collins to hit free agency. The Kansas City Chiefs are in need of a high-quality safety to strengthen a defense that got burned too many times in 2018. It’s easy to connect the dots and believe that Collins could be a huge addition for the Chiefs this offseason. But is that true?

Collins was drafted out of Alabama in the second round of the 2015 Draft and was an immediate contributor to the Giants secondary, with 108 combined tackles and one interception. During his four years with the New York Giants, Collins was efficient and earned three trips to the Pro Bowl. He was also selected as an All-Pro in 2016. The six-foot safety has been very good for the Giants, but general manager Dave Gettleman decided to part ways in the end.

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There are a lot of factors that make this move sound perfect, but it may appear that the Chiefs have bigger fish to fry this offseason. On the one hand, the gaping hole at the safety position is a must-fill. All-Pro safety Eric Berry will look to return to form in 2019 after only playing in three games in the 2018 season due to a heel injury, which he said will not need surgery in the offseason, but the other safety position is up for grabs.

Daniel Sorensen was the starter in 2018, numerous reports indicate that he may not be with the team in 2019 due to his high salary cap hit of roughly $4 million. The Chiefs have some young players that could fill in, including Jordan Lucas and Eric Murray. Both played in relief roles last season, but neither solidified a starting spot.

With the probable release of Sorensen and linebacker Justin Houston, there will be enough salary cap for a big free-agent like Collins, but it appears some of that salary cap is already being allocated to wide receiver Tyreek Hill. NFL reports that Hill and the Chiefs are negotiating a “record-setting” contract which may not leave enough money for a signing like Collins.

With a deep defensive draft, I think that the Chiefs could answer their safety woes with a first round pick like Johnathan Abram out of Mississippi State, who Mel Kiper predicts the Chiefs will take with their first-round pick of the 2019 draft. There are also contracts that will need to be addressed this offseason to include defensive lineman Chris Jones, and possible Dee Ford who received the franchise tag this offseason. The money that they could use for Collins could be used to sign some big impact players.

In the end, I think that Collins would be a great player that would continue to produce, but I feel that it is just not the right time to sign an expensive free agent when the Chiefs have their own talent to sign—as well as a good chance of drafting an NFL-ready safety.

That was my opinion, now let me know yours in the comments.

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