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By John Sarianides

The Cleveland Browns signed outside linebacker Jaime Collins to a four year, $50 million dollar deal on Monday. Collins got $26 million guaranteed in the deal. On the surface, I think the Browns overpaid for Collins. I don’t think he is worth top three money at his position.

Collins is a unique talent. He is athletic and can play all three downs. The former strong safety can play in the box, pressure the quarterback and cover backs out of the backfield. Collins is also lazy, a liability in vertical coverage and he has a tendency to freelance too much. It is one of the reasons his role diminished in New England.

I get overpaying him from the Browns perspective. Cleveland has one of the worst rosters in the NFL so when you have the opportunity to keep a player of Collins caliber, you over pay to do it. Despite his deficiencies, he is still an elite talent and arguably the Browns best defensive player.

Collins wasn’t going to get that kind of money in New England, so bitching his way out of town ended up paying off for him. It will be interesting to see if he can get back to playing a high level now that he got paid. Collins played well after he got to Cleveland so the Browns are banking on him being the centerpiece of their defense.

I am curious to see if Collins will start caring about football again now that he got paid. I have my doubts. I still think he would rather play video games and chill with his boys. That is why I think the Browns will eventually regret paying him. There is a reason Bill Belichick gave him away. Collins is not a team player. He is self absorbed, immature young man who likes the fame and fortune that comes with playing football. He is the furthest thing from a team player.