Report: Lions agree to 3-year, $30M deal with Collins

Matt Patricia continues to add former New England Patriots defenders.

Linebacker Jamie Collins will sign a three-year, $30-million contract with the Detroit Lions, a source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Collins' new deal reportedly includes $18 million in guaranteed money.

The versatile defender spent the first three-plus seasons of his career in New England, helping the team capture Super Bowl XLIX. The Patriots traded him to the Cleveland Browns in 2016, but his play declined somewhat after the deal.

Collins returned to the Patriots on a one-year contract last offseason and turned in a solid 2019 campaign. He accumulated a career-high seven sacks while adding 81 total tackles, three forced fumbles, and three interceptions across 15 starts.

Patricia and Collins spent more than three years together in New England when the former served as defensive coordinator for the Patriots. Collins, 30, will join former Patriots players Trey Flowers, Danny Amendola, Justin Coleman, and Tavon Wilson in Detroit.