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

[Chief X_Phackter]

Originally Posted by FrenchSkin

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.

I thought we were in a 5-2 more often than anything, but I may be mistaken.

A proven MLB is the answer. However, this regime seems to really believe Holcomb is the answer at MLB, so I don't know that that's going to happen.

Maybe one of those JAGS will surprise...who knows. I'd still bring Collins back for the right $$ though if they don't plan to sign a true Veteran LB, and if they don't have faith in anyone from the JAG pool. It would be better than not addressing the position at all.