With nine games in the books for the New England Patriots this season, it’s clear as day that reuniting with linebacker Jamie Collins was the right move.

Collins was drafted by New England in 2013 and made an immediate impact for the team, but he abruptly got traded away to the Cleveland Browns in the middle of the 2016 season. There were rumors that he was freelancing and that was the reason Bill Belichick was ready to let him go — so the Patriots resigning him this offseason made for a surprise.

His return has been nothing short of phenomenal and he’s even been mentioned in Defensive Player of the Year talks. Collins has returned an interception for a touchdown, four pass deflections, six sacks and 48 tackles through nine games this season. He’s been an intricate part of ‘The Boogeymen’ unit, and that’s why ESPN’s Field Yates listed him as one of the best offseason moves this year.

The Patriots signed linebacker Jamie Collins to a one-year deal worth up to $5 million after he was cut by the Browns, bringing him back to the team that drafted him in the second round in 2013. And so far, Collins has a case to be the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year, as he has been a pillar for one of the league’s top defenses. Collins’ return has been the realization of all of his abilities on a consistent basis: He can be a dominant pass-rusher, pass defender and three-down linebacker. He has been everywhere for the Pats, leading them in tackles (48) and sacks (six) while also snagging (three) interceptions.

Belichick spoke about Collins after New England’s Week 2 victory over the Miami Dolphins and he had nothing but praise.

“Jamie’s a very special player. He’s very smart, instinctive,” Belichick said. “He’s got a great nose for the ball in the passing game and in the running game. He’s got the physical skills to play at the end of the line and off the line, to blitz, to play in coverage, play against the run and play against the pass. So we’re able to do different things with him and he’s been productive and effective in all of them. So it’s really exciting to have that type of player in your system, and to have players he can work with. They can do things that maybe you don’t normally or aren’t able to do because of some type of limitations.”

The Patriots feature one of the league’s best linebacker cores with Collins, Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts, Ja’Whaun Bentley and John Simon.