Pats trade LB Collins to Browns for comp pick … In something of a surprise, New England has traded veteran OLB Jamie Collins to Cleveland for what is being described as a compensatory third-round pick at the 2017 draft. In the past, compensatory picks could not be traded, however, next year’s draft is the first in which they can be moved. What makes it a little strange to announce the deal for a particular comp picks is that they won’t be announced until just before the draft and teams really don’t know until then exactly what they’ll be getting. It also an odd deal in the sense that New England is a Super Bowl contender and Collins is one of the best players on their defense; indeed, he went to his first Pro Bowl last season, but he’ll be a free agent whom the Patriots appear to feel they won’t be able to lock up.
