Cleveland Browns: Two players to let walk, cut, and re-sign in 2019
By Randy Gurzi
Should be cut: Jamie Collins, LB
In 2019, Jamie Collins will count $11.75 million against the salary cap (according to OverTheCap.com). Should they cut him, he will count just $2.5 million this season, which frees up $9.25 million. Now, they could save even more should they designate him as a Post-June 1 cut. In this scenario, Collins costs just $1.25 million in 2019 with a savings of $10.5 million. How they designate him just depends on when they need the money as the post-June cut won’t be available until after he is off the books.
Cutting him early affords them extra funds to go out and land more talent that can help them in their pursuit of the AFC North title in 2019. Cutting him late could help give players already on the roster an extension, and with the Browns not hurting for cap space, that could be the wise way for them to go. That $10.5 million could help them lock up players like J.C. Tretter, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Damarious Randall — all who have contracts that expire following 2019.
Either way, it’s probably time the Browns move on from the high-priced Collins. His numbers look fine as he had 104 tackles and four sacks this season, but too often he was out of position and didn’t make enough splash plays for what he earns.
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Cleveland will likely need to add some speed, and youth, at the position and the 29-year old Collins may be on the way out — especially considering that huge contract he was given came before John Dorsey was in town for the Browns.