La'el Collins signed. Also, Midswat likes dudes.
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dbair1967
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Apparently UDFA contracts do have limits, so essentially no team is going to really "outbid" another.
It basically comes down to which situation Collins prefers. Some teams have more obvious holes on the OL. Some might be promising him starting LT job. I think here he would likely start at LG first and eventually go to RT, unless Free isn't healthy enough yet to practice in OTA and early training camp, then maybe Collins gets all those reps and wins RT job.
Would be great to land him for sure.
It basically comes down to which situation Collins prefers. Some teams have more obvious holes on the OL. Some might be promising him starting LT job. I think here he would likely start at LG first and eventually go to RT, unless Free isn't healthy enough yet to practice in OTA and early training camp, then maybe Collins gets all those reps and wins RT job.
Would be great to land him for sure.
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Here's NFLDraftScout's review of Collins:
STRENGTHS: Collins sports a thick, powerful frame that makes him about as difficult to move as a chest freezer. His frame belies his quick feet, an attribute that when combined with his long arms, impressive strength and aggression make him a devastating run blocker. Collins is often the quickest of LSU's offensive linemen off the snap and he routinely drives his assignment off the line of scrimmage with pure power, creating easy running lanes for LSU's backs. He's surprisingly quick to the second level and has good body control to adjust to moving targets.
As a pass blocker, Collins shows good initial quickness in his kick-slide and uses his long reach to maintain the arc. When he gets his hands on opponents and remains square, it is generally lights out for the defender. Collins showed his willingness to potentially convert inside, impressing on a few snaps at left guard at the Senior Bowl.
WEAKNESSES: Collins left Chicago shortly before the draft to address an off-field issue in which police wanted to speak to him regarding the shooting death of a 29-year-old pregnant woman. He was not considered a suspect, but the timing of the issue left his draft stock in limbo.
He does not possess elite balance and can be challenged by speed-rushers. He'll over-compensate occasionally and leave the inside open for counters.
Collins' aggression is admirable but also leads to mistakes. Rather than patiently waiting for defenders to come to him, Collins will occasionally lunge, making himself top-heavy and prone to slipping down the body of his opponent. This can lead to his hands getting too low or slipping onto the side and/or back of defenders, which invites them to swim over the top of him to disengage.
COMPARISON TO: James Carpenter, Jets: Collins is a better athlete than Carpenter and therefore may be likelier to remain outside than Alabama's former tackle, who has since become a mauling run blocker at left guard with the Seahawks.
--Rob Rang
Player Overview
There are two basic truths evaluators have grown used to when scouting LSU - for one, the team will be loaded with talent. Second, the talent is so rich so that the best players rarely use all of their collegiate eligibility before leaving for the NFL. Unlike many of his former teammates, Collins elected to return for his senior season despite the fact that he reportedly earned a first round grade from the NFL Advisory Committee.
Collins certainly did nothing to harm that grade in 2014, putting forth yet another dominant campaign at left tackle for the Tigers and following that up with a strong performance at the Senior Bowl.
Collins earned immediate playing time for the Tigers as a true freshman, playing in seven games at left guard. He took over the starting position a year later, leading the team in total snaps (846) and knockdown blocks (64.5) while earning Honorable Mention honors from the AP. Collins made the switch to left tackle as a junior, earning second-team All-SEC accolades from league coaches and posting another 65 knockdown blocks despite missing one game (Furman) due to injury.
Collins possesses a square-ish build that makes him appear better suited to guard. His combination of surprisingly light feet, bullish power and competitiveness could earn him Pro Bowl nods. He's quick enough to remain at tackle for power-running teams, which only makes Collins that much more valuable in the eyes of scouts.
STRENGTHS: Collins sports a thick, powerful frame that makes him about as difficult to move as a chest freezer. His frame belies his quick feet, an attribute that when combined with his long arms, impressive strength and aggression make him a devastating run blocker. Collins is often the quickest of LSU's offensive linemen off the snap and he routinely drives his assignment off the line of scrimmage with pure power, creating easy running lanes for LSU's backs. He's surprisingly quick to the second level and has good body control to adjust to moving targets.
As a pass blocker, Collins shows good initial quickness in his kick-slide and uses his long reach to maintain the arc. When he gets his hands on opponents and remains square, it is generally lights out for the defender. Collins showed his willingness to potentially convert inside, impressing on a few snaps at left guard at the Senior Bowl.
WEAKNESSES: Collins left Chicago shortly before the draft to address an off-field issue in which police wanted to speak to him regarding the shooting death of a 29-year-old pregnant woman. He was not considered a suspect, but the timing of the issue left his draft stock in limbo.
He does not possess elite balance and can be challenged by speed-rushers. He'll over-compensate occasionally and leave the inside open for counters.
Collins' aggression is admirable but also leads to mistakes. Rather than patiently waiting for defenders to come to him, Collins will occasionally lunge, making himself top-heavy and prone to slipping down the body of his opponent. This can lead to his hands getting too low or slipping onto the side and/or back of defenders, which invites them to swim over the top of him to disengage.
COMPARISON TO: James Carpenter, Jets: Collins is a better athlete than Carpenter and therefore may be likelier to remain outside than Alabama's former tackle, who has since become a mauling run blocker at left guard with the Seahawks.
--Rob Rang
Player Overview
There are two basic truths evaluators have grown used to when scouting LSU - for one, the team will be loaded with talent. Second, the talent is so rich so that the best players rarely use all of their collegiate eligibility before leaving for the NFL. Unlike many of his former teammates, Collins elected to return for his senior season despite the fact that he reportedly earned a first round grade from the NFL Advisory Committee.
Collins certainly did nothing to harm that grade in 2014, putting forth yet another dominant campaign at left tackle for the Tigers and following that up with a strong performance at the Senior Bowl.
Collins earned immediate playing time for the Tigers as a true freshman, playing in seven games at left guard. He took over the starting position a year later, leading the team in total snaps (846) and knockdown blocks (64.5) while earning Honorable Mention honors from the AP. Collins made the switch to left tackle as a junior, earning second-team All-SEC accolades from league coaches and posting another 65 knockdown blocks despite missing one game (Furman) due to injury.
Collins possesses a square-ish build that makes him appear better suited to guard. His combination of surprisingly light feet, bullish power and competitiveness could earn him Pro Bowl nods. He's quick enough to remain at tackle for power-running teams, which only makes Collins that much more valuable in the eyes of scouts.
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I think a lot of teams are going to jump in now, because they damn sure do not want to see Collins on the Cowboys with that OL.
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I think people thought this was another Rae Carruth.
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Did Cowboys tell La’el Collins they’re trying to assemble NFL’s greatest offensive line?
Jon Machota Email jmachota@dallasnews.com
Published: May 7, 2015 8:56 am
Despite having arguably the top offensive line in the NFL, the Cowboys would like to get better.
Chad Sabadie, a sports reporter at WVUE-Fox 8, tweeted Thursday morning that the Cowboys have met with former LSU offensive tackle La’el Collins.
Collins, who went undrafted last weekend, had a visit scheduled with the Cowboys, according to The Advocate in Baton Rouge. That’s not a surprise considering Collins, one of the top offensive linemen in this recent draft class, has drawn interest from several NFL teams.
Cowboys officials and Collins’ agent, Deryk Gilmore, did not return messages Wednesday night.
Sabadie tweeted that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hosted Collins at his private residence. During that meeting, Jones told Collins that they want to assemble the NFL’s greatest offensive line. He added that Tony Romo and the entire Cowboys offensive line also made their push to sign Collins.
Collins went from being a likely first-round pick to an undrafted free agent when news broke last week that Baton Rouge police wanted to talk to him about the murder of a 29-year-old pregnant woman.
If Collins were to sign with the Cowboys, he’d likely battle Ron Leary for the starting left guard spot with Tyron Smith and Doug Free remaining the starters at left and right tackle. The Cowboys drafted two offensive tackles in this year’s draft. They chose Florida’s Chaz Green in the third round and Virginia Tech’s Laurence Gibson in the seventh.
Smith, center Travis Frederick and right guard Zack Martin were all selected to this year’s Pro Bowl.
Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota
Did Cowboys tell La’el Collins they’re trying to assemble NFL’s greatest offensive line? | | Dallas Morning News
Jon Machota Email jmachota@dallasnews.com
Published: May 7, 2015 8:56 am
Despite having arguably the top offensive line in the NFL, the Cowboys would like to get better.
Chad Sabadie, a sports reporter at WVUE-Fox 8, tweeted Thursday morning that the Cowboys have met with former LSU offensive tackle La’el Collins.
Collins, who went undrafted last weekend, had a visit scheduled with the Cowboys, according to The Advocate in Baton Rouge. That’s not a surprise considering Collins, one of the top offensive linemen in this recent draft class, has drawn interest from several NFL teams.
Cowboys officials and Collins’ agent, Deryk Gilmore, did not return messages Wednesday night.
Sabadie tweeted that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones hosted Collins at his private residence. During that meeting, Jones told Collins that they want to assemble the NFL’s greatest offensive line. He added that Tony Romo and the entire Cowboys offensive line also made their push to sign Collins.
Collins went from being a likely first-round pick to an undrafted free agent when news broke last week that Baton Rouge police wanted to talk to him about the murder of a 29-year-old pregnant woman.
If Collins were to sign with the Cowboys, he’d likely battle Ron Leary for the starting left guard spot with Tyron Smith and Doug Free remaining the starters at left and right tackle. The Cowboys drafted two offensive tackles in this year’s draft. They chose Florida’s Chaz Green in the third round and Virginia Tech’s Laurence Gibson in the seventh.
Smith, center Travis Frederick and right guard Zack Martin were all selected to this year’s Pro Bowl.
Follow Jon Machota on Twitter: @jonmachota
Did Cowboys tell La’el Collins they’re trying to assemble NFL’s greatest offensive line? | | Dallas Morning News
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More importantly and even more prestigious, is that they all made the ALL-PRO team. Both Smith and Martin were 1st Team ALL-PRO, and Fredericks was 2nd Team ALL-PRO (should have been first).
Iamtdg
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Yeah, the money on the rookie contract is going to be a non-issue. Every team he meets with will offer him the max they can as an UDFA. The issue will come with where he thinks he can get the biggest second contract. If he thinks he can start at LT for a team right off the bat, it's going to be hard for other teams to beat that.
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Charean Williams
@NFLCharean
Cowboys have signed La'el Collins, according to a source.
Charean Williams on Twitter: "Cowboys have signed La'el Collins, according to a source."
@NFLCharean
Cowboys have signed La'el Collins, according to a source.
Charean Williams on Twitter: "Cowboys have signed La'el Collins, according to a source."
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Wow.
Superbowl favorites?
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Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
The #Cowboys deal for #LSU OL La’El Collins is for 3 years, fully guaranteed
Mike Garafolo
@MikeGarafolo
Cowboys went around the rookie pool issue (limited signing bonus) by fully guaranteeing all 3 years of La'el Collins' deal.
Marcus Spears
@mspear96
moment you realize the @dallascowboys Signed the best O-lineman @70LaelCollins and if it's possible the O-line just Got better �� sheesh ����
@RapSheet
The #Cowboys deal for #LSU OL La’El Collins is for 3 years, fully guaranteed
Mike Garafolo
@MikeGarafolo
Cowboys went around the rookie pool issue (limited signing bonus) by fully guaranteeing all 3 years of La'el Collins' deal.
Marcus Spears
@mspear96
moment you realize the @dallascowboys Signed the best O-lineman @70LaelCollins and if it's possible the O-line just Got better �� sheesh ����
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cockstrong
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Cowboys sign La'el Collins to deal
10m - NFL DALLAS COWBOYS
Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas Cowboys reporter
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IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys have reached a deal with undrafted free-agent offensive lineman La'el Collins, a source confirmed to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter.
The Cowboys fully guaranteed the three-year, $1.65 million deal, the source said.
After meeting with Collins on Wednesday night at Jerry Jones' Highland Park home, the Cowboys were able to come to the agreement on Thursday.
Collins was viewed as a first-round pick entering last week's draft, but went undrafted when his name was linked to an investigation into the murder of his pregnant former girlfriend.
La'el Collins, a projected first-round pick, went undrafted last week amid an investigation into the death of his former girlfriend. AP Photo/Mark Humphrey
Collins was questioned by Baton Rouge, Louisiana, investigators about Brittney Mills' death on April 24 but is not considered a suspect. While not a suspect, he has yet to be fully cleared. Collins was one of the best offensive linemen available in last week's draft, but teams were unwilling to select him because of the uncertainty of his involvement.
A paternity test showed Collins was not the father of Mills' unborn child. He also passed a polygraph test, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson. Mills' unborn child survived the shooting but died a week later in the hospital.
Teams are not allowed to meet with undrafted players at their school or residence, which led to the meeting with the Cowboys in Dallas. Collins also met with Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan, and a number of Collins' former LSU teammates on the Miami Dolphins attempted to recruit him as well.
It's not clear whether Collins will take part in the rookie minicamp that starts Friday.
While Collins started his final two years at LSU at left tackle, he projects more as a guard in the NFL. He started 13 games at left guard his sophomore year.
Ronald Leary has been the Cowboys' left guard the last two seasons, starting every game in which he has been active.
Already considered one of the best -- if not the best -- line in the NFL, the addition of Collins to a group that includes first-rounders Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin, as well as steady right tackle Doug Free, would further solidify the Cowboys' front.
Collins is the third high-profile addition for the Cowboys at less-than-full price. The Cowboys signed Greg Hardy to a one-year deal in free agency, in part because teams did not want to deal with Hardy's domestic violence issues. He subsequently received a 10-game suspension, which he is appealing. Last week, the Cowboys were able to select Randy Gregory in the second round of the draft. He was pegged as a high first-round pick at the start of the draft process but a failed drug test at the NFL scouting combine and other issues scared teams off.
10m - NFL DALLAS COWBOYS
Todd Archer, ESPN Dallas Cowboys reporter
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IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys have reached a deal with undrafted free-agent offensive lineman La'el Collins, a source confirmed to ESPN Insider Adam Schefter.
The Cowboys fully guaranteed the three-year, $1.65 million deal, the source said.
After meeting with Collins on Wednesday night at Jerry Jones' Highland Park home, the Cowboys were able to come to the agreement on Thursday.
Collins was viewed as a first-round pick entering last week's draft, but went undrafted when his name was linked to an investigation into the murder of his pregnant former girlfriend.
La'el Collins, a projected first-round pick, went undrafted last week amid an investigation into the death of his former girlfriend. AP Photo/Mark Humphrey
Collins was questioned by Baton Rouge, Louisiana, investigators about Brittney Mills' death on April 24 but is not considered a suspect. While not a suspect, he has yet to be fully cleared. Collins was one of the best offensive linemen available in last week's draft, but teams were unwilling to select him because of the uncertainty of his involvement.
A paternity test showed Collins was not the father of Mills' unborn child. He also passed a polygraph test, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson. Mills' unborn child survived the shooting but died a week later in the hospital.
Teams are not allowed to meet with undrafted players at their school or residence, which led to the meeting with the Cowboys in Dallas. Collins also met with Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan, and a number of Collins' former LSU teammates on the Miami Dolphins attempted to recruit him as well.
It's not clear whether Collins will take part in the rookie minicamp that starts Friday.
While Collins started his final two years at LSU at left tackle, he projects more as a guard in the NFL. He started 13 games at left guard his sophomore year.
Ronald Leary has been the Cowboys' left guard the last two seasons, starting every game in which he has been active.
Already considered one of the best -- if not the best -- line in the NFL, the addition of Collins to a group that includes first-rounders Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin, as well as steady right tackle Doug Free, would further solidify the Cowboys' front.
Collins is the third high-profile addition for the Cowboys at less-than-full price. The Cowboys signed Greg Hardy to a one-year deal in free agency, in part because teams did not want to deal with Hardy's domestic violence issues. He subsequently received a 10-game suspension, which he is appealing. Last week, the Cowboys were able to select Randy Gregory in the second round of the draft. He was pegged as a high first-round pick at the start of the draft process but a failed drug test at the NFL scouting combine and other issues scared teams off.
dbair1967
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Ditto