McLaurin is signing a 3-year extension worth up to $71 million

[FrenchSkin]

Originally Posted by Chief X_Phackter

So what is the "base" defense?

I think that bringing back Collins is the right move.

In the first four weeks of last season, he played about 30% of his snaps at deep safety and blitzed an average of once per game. He allowed a passer rating of 118.8, along with four TDs.

In the eight games after that, he recorded an interception, two sacks, and 10 stops (PFF). That is enough to grade him as the NFL's best run defender among safeties during that span.

Is there a better option on the team, or in FA?

The 4-3 is our base defense. I know we play a lot of nickel and dime. But we still do play a significant part of snaps in 4-3. And for now we just don't have the roster for that. That is an issue.

As for Collins I think the bolded part says it all. "best run defenders among safeties"... but he wasn't a safety ! He was a glorified LB ! And while he was really good against the run at times, he still missed some guys, took some bad angles at times and wasn't good enough defending the pass. Grading him amongst safeties to sign him as a LB is flawed.

I'm not saying we couldn't use him. I'm saying look at our depth chart.
DB: Fuller, WJ3, St Juste, Curl, McCain, Darrick Forrest, Danny Johnson, Reaves etc...
LB: Holcomb, Davis, Hudson (hybrid) and then bellow average JAGS... We have 2.5 starting LBs.

Put aside the fact Collins played for us last year and tell me who we need more: a former safety that played better when put in a LB position, or a proven MLB with a LB body and skills ala Schobert, Hightower, Minter, Kwon Alexander, Ogletree etc... ?
I was a big fan of the Collins signing, but his progress after the switch to LB is overblown IMO. The Collins experience failed.