The Washington Redskins bolstered their secondary in a big way Thursday, signing free agent All-Pro safety Landon Collins to a reported multi-year deal.
Learn about the newest Washington Redskin with these five fast facts:
Landon Collins chose his number at Alabama and New York to honor Sean Taylor
Collins has always tried to emulate himself after Taylor, a physically imposing safety who starred for the Redskins from 2004 until his tragic death in 2007. He wore No. 26 at Alabama because Taylor wore No. 26 at Miami and switched to No. 21 after being drafted by the New York Giants because Taylor wore No. 21 in Washington. It's because of Taylor that Collins has always wanted to play in Washington, and so signing a long-term deal seems like a perfect fit.
He was an All-American at Alabama and the 33rd overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft
Born in New Orleans, Collins developed into a top-10 recruit out of Dutchtown High School before becoming a unanimous All-American at Alabama as a junior in 2015. After the season, Collins decided to forego his senior campaign and declared for the NFL Draft, where the New York Giants selected him with the first pick in the second round. He was the second safety taken.
Since being drafted in 2015, Collins has been a three-time Pro Bowl safety as well as first-team All-Pro in 2016
Collins has started 59 games during his four-year career, amassing 437 total tackles, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and eight interceptions. He's been selected to the Pro Bowl each of the last three seasons and earned first-team All-Pro in 2016, when he set career-highs in solo tackles (100) and interceptions (5).
He is the only NFL player to record 400 tackles and 30 passes defensed since 2015
Dating back to his time at Alabama, Collins has always been one of his team's top tacklers. He finished second in tackles for the Crimson Tide as a sophomore in 2013 and then led the team as a junior. Collins' knack for bringing down ball carriers has translated into the NFL ranks. A second round pick in the 2015 Draft, Collins was the Giants' leading tackler and the only safety in the league to record at least 95 tackles in each of the past four seasons. He's also the only player in the NFL to record 400 tackles and 30 passes defensed since 2015.
In 2016, Collins became the first player in NFL history with 125 solo tackles, more than two sacks and at least five interceptions and 12 pass deflections
After a solid rookie year, Collins became one of the league's premier safeties thanks to an unprecedented 2016 campaign. In the first of three Pro Bowl seasons, Collins, then 22 years old, became the first player in NFL history with 125 solo tackles, more than two sacks and at least five interceptions and 12 pass deflections. He earned first-team All-Pro for his efforts, while the Kansas City Committee of 101 named him as its NFC Defensive Player of the Year.
