The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were one of several times that inquired about trading for New York Giants strong safety Landon Collins, according to a report on SYN.com. The Giants were looking for at least a second-round pick in 2019 and a low-round draft choice in 2020, according to the report, but the best any team – possibly Tampa Bay – offered was a third-round pick in next year’s draft, so he’s staying put in New York.
The 6-foot, 222-pound Collins was the Giants’ second-round draft pick in 2015 and is in a contract year and will be a free agent in 2019. The 24-year old Collins has 403 tackles, 32 pass breakups, eight interceptions, four sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in his New York career.
The Bucs have been trying to upgrade its strong safety position for years, re-signing Chris Conte and signing J.J. Wilcox in 2017 before trading Wilcox and acquiring free agent T.J. Ward just before the start of last season. Tampa Bay drafted Jordan Whitehead in the fourth round this year and he’s been starting since the fifth game of the year after Conte was placed on injured reserve after injuring his knee in Week 3.
In the end, Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht stood pat with his roster and didn’t make any moves, although the Bucs fielded inquiries about quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick from Jacksonville and about wide receiver DeSean Jackson from Houston and Philadelphia, according to media reports.