Landon Collins Is the Future of the Safety Position

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Playing safety at an elite level in the NFL today is a big ask of players at the position. Safeties are expected to be sure tacklers in run support and cover receivers in pass coverage. It’s tough, plain and simple, and it’s been quite some time since the likes of Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed were dominating opposing offenses.

Sure, Earl Thomas, Harrison Smith, Eric Berry, and/or Eric Weddle may come to mind when one thinks of the NFL’s best safeties, but none of them have revolutionized the position the way Polamalu and Reed did.

Landon Collins is that type of player.

Drafted out of Alabama atop the second round in 2015, Collins is making a massive impact on the New York Giants defense in just his second season. The wild part is that he wasn’t even the first safety drafted last year. Green Bay selected Damarious Randall out of Arizona State at 30th overall. The Packers have their own former Crimson Tide stud in the defensive backfield, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, but could you imagine seeing Collins running wild right beside him? Judging by the 2016 season so far, the Pack may like to have that one back.

Heading into the draft, the knock on Collins was his average vision, average speed, and average hands. Overall, it’s pretty apparent that a lot of experts thought he was going to be an average safety in the NFL. Well, it isn’t exactly panning out that way, experts.

The Giants stud is tied atop the NFL with three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He’s recorded three sacks on the season (tied for first among safeties). His 10 passes defended is good for first among safeties. With 66 total tackles on the season, Collins is tied for sixth overall, but guess what – first among safeties.

Even Pro Football Focus thinks highly of Collins, giving him an overall grade of 89.9 on the season. He’s behind Weddle (graded at 91.9), but there’s plenty of season left to go. Collins is hot right now, tallying an interception in four straight games.

Collins is far and away the best safety in the NFL this season, and amazingly enough, the stats are comparable to Reed’s 2004 MVP season:

This is coming from Ian Rapoport – not some random Twitter bro. THE Ian Rapoport is starting to go there with Collins.

However, it isn’t just the stats that show why the Giants safety is having such a stellar season. Just watch him play:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyoL1g-n8CI]

People much smarter than I am are saying Collins is having an unprecedented season for a man who is only 22 years. Plus, the guy’s touchdown dance is on point:

He’s beyond Pro Bowl consideration. Collins should be the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year and is in the 2016 NFL MVP conversation. Astonishingly enough, he’s only just getting started.

Stoney Keeley is the editor of the SoBros Network, Tennessee Titans Featured Analyst for Pro Football Spot, Contributor to FanSided’s Bama Hammer, and covers the WWE for WrestlingNews.co. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley@PFSpot@WrestlingNewsCo@Bama_Hammer

Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork

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