Washington safety Landon Collins doesn’t like being called a linebacker. After struggling as a deep safety early in the season, Washington’s coaching staff approached Collins about altering his role. They viewed him as more of a fit in the box.
Collins, being a team player, acquiesced and embraced his new role.
Over the last two months, Collins has been playing his best football since signing with Washington in March 2019. In Washington’s Week 14 loss to the Cowboys, Collins finished with two sacks and an interception, becoming the first safety in 15 years to accomplish that feat.
Landon Collins (@TheHumble_21) had two sacks and an interception against Dallas, marking the first time IN 15 YEARS a safety has had two sacks and a pick in a game. The last to do it was former Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson, against the Seahawks on Sept. 17, 2006.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 12, 2021
Despite his success on the field, becoming Washington’s second-most important defender behind Jonathan Allen, Collins still doesn’t like the label of linebacker. Instead, he has another name for his “new” position, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.
“I’m a hybrid,” he said when asked to describe his position.
You got myself, you got Derwin [James], you got ‘Jenks’ [Malcolm Jenkins] at the Saints, [Justin] Simmons with the Broncos, they’re moving him around a lot now. T.J. Ward was definitely one of them. You got a lot of guys that are doing it now, safety-wise, because you got guys that are very instinctive. How defensive schemes are going right now, you need us all over the field.
He’s right. Collins plays different roles in Jack Del Rio’s defense, and he’s thriving. So, yes, his position is a hybrid of safety and linebacker. And give credit to Del Rio and head coach Ron Rivera, who do their best to avoid calling Collins a linebacker when describing his impact.
Nearly everyone believed the 2021 season would be Collins’ last in Washington, despite having three years remaining on the six-year, $84 million contract he signed in 2019. However, Collins has now become an indispensable part of Washington’s defense. Kam Curl and Bobby McCain have solidified the traditional safety roles, allowing Collins to thrive in his current role.
Collins absolutely wants to remain in Washington beyond 2021.
“I would love to stay here within the role that I’m playing in, and if they love me. I love being here,” Collins said. “This is where I wanted to be drafted to when I first got into the NFL. So yeah, I would love to be here.”
Sure, Washington would save over $6 million if it released Collins before June 1. But, there’s no need to release Collins. Washington has significant cap room in 2022, so keeping one of its best defensive players should be a no-brainer for Rivera in the offseason.