The New England Patriots have made it through OTAs and minicamp, with training camp ahead of them.
They lost some talented players this offseason, but they’ve also made some strong moves to revamp the roster. The absence of Trey Flowers is a huge hit for the Patriots, but they were able to bring in Michael Bennett as a reliable pass rusher.
Bennett won’t be enough though to make up for Flowers’ absence — but they might have brought in a guy that can reciprocate that energy. Unexpectedly, they brought in Jamie Collins — who started his career in New England before getting traded to the Cleveland Browns.
Because of the controversy between both parties in the past, there was skepticism on whether or not this move would be beneficial. From a small sample size, it seems like Collins is fitting right back in.
ESPN shared one player from every NFL team that was a surprise offseason standout — and Collins made the list from New England.
Signed to a modest one-year deal in May, Collins flashed speed and playmaking ability on defense while being inserted into a top spot on the punt-protection unit. The initial projection was that Collins would add depth on defense and potentially have to fight for a roster spot based on the way his first stint in New England ended in 2016, but now he looks as if he will be a key cog alongside returning off-the-line linebackers Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Ja’Whaun Bentley and Elandon Roberts.
Collins still has a lot to prove before the season begins, but he’s off to a great start.
