La'el Collins Thread - Cleared post 767; visited Cowboys - 05/06/15

[AsthmaField]

Why can't a team sign him as an UDFA but give him a first round-like contract? I mean assuming he is completely cleared, we know he was a first round pick, so that contract wouldn't be any more risky than any first round contract.

Collins wanted to go in the first round, I'm sure... but if he still got first round money that's all that he would really care about, right?

 

[LittleD]

my humble guess is that New Orleans will have the inside track on him. He probably isn't interested in coming
to the Cowboys to sit on the bench for a season. He will go somewhere he can start and play.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Why can't a team sign him as an UDFA but give him a first round-like contract? I mean assuming he is completely cleared, we know he was a first round pick, so that contract wouldn't be any more risky than any first round contract.

Collins wanted to go in the first round, I'm sure... but if he still got first round money that's all that he would really care about, right?

The max amount UDFA can g is capped, just like it is for all draft picks. He can get more than a 7th rounder, but I don't think it's much more.

 

[EST_1986]

Pay the man, whatever is allowed maximum by the law of the CBA

 

[speedkilz88]

Why can't a team sign him as an UDFA but give him a first round-like contract? I mean assuming he is completely cleared, we know he was a first round pick, so that contract wouldn't be any more risky than any first round contract.

Collins wanted to go in the first round, I'm sure... but if he still got first round money that's all that he would really care about, right?

Teams only are allotted around 80K bonus for all their UDFA signings and that is the total. They changed it a few years back because teams complained the Cowboys had an unfair advantage money wise.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I just don't think we're that attractive of an option for him. First, it's in his best interest to play as early as possible, so he can earn those end of the year performance incentives that go to under paid players and there are certainly places where he would face less competition. Second, once he is an UFA, he will want to cash in, and there is a good chance it won't be here. Odds are we will see a rotating door at LG and RT every few years.

 

[AsthmaField]

Teams only are allotted around 80K bonus for all their UDFA signings and that is the total. They changed it a few years back because teams complained the Cowboys had an unfair advantage money wise.

The max amount UDFA can g is capped, just like it is for all draft picks. He can get more than a 7th rounder, but I don't think it's much more.

Thanks. I was wondering that and had never really thought about it.

 

[speedkilz88]

Cowboys did get around it with Leary by guaranteeing his contract even when he was on the practice squad. But Collins doesn't have to worry about that I don't think. But a guaranteed contract should still be a must by his agent. --Once he's cleared.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I can tell you guys this, money wise, there won't be a big difference in the offers he gets. Everyone will offer the max allowed

 

[xwalker]

Why can't a team sign him as an UDFA but give him a first round-like contract? I mean assuming he is completely cleared, we know he was a first round pick, so that contract wouldn't be any more risky than any first round contract.

Collins wanted to go in the first round, I'm sure... but if he still got first round money that's all that he would really care about, right?

I'm not clear on the exact rules. I know the signing bonuses are capped, but I thought the salaries were not. The salaries might count against the pool of money each team has for draft picks.

There might be a benefit for him to sign a 1 year contract. He would still be an ERFA but I think any cap on what the team could pay him would be gone.

 

[AsthmaField]

I can tell you guys this, money wise, there won't be a big difference in the offers he gets. Everyone will offer the max allowed

I'm not clear on the exact rules. I know the signing bonuses are capped, but I thought the salaries were not. The salaries might count against the pool of money each team has for draft picks.

There might be a benefit for him to sign a 1 year contract. He would still be an ERFA but I think any cap on what the team could pay him would be gone.

I'm sure all the teams will offer the max... but like X mentioned, there are probably some creative things teams can do to entice him.

I can tell you this... if the guy is confident in his ability and wouldn't be intimidated in trying to win a starting spot on the best OL in football, Dallas will probably be high up on his list.

* Pretty close to Baton Rouge (only New Orleans is closer).
* Could become part of an epic OL for one of the premier franchises in all of professional sports.
* Could play for a team that has a run first mentality.
* Could play for a team that is supposed to compete for post season honors.
* Could play in the Taj Mahal of football stadiums.

If Dallas makes a push for him and gets creative... I think they'll have a shot at him.

 

[Hailmary]

I'm not clear on the exact rules. I know the signing bonuses are capped, but I thought the salaries were not. The salaries might count against the pool of money each team has for draft picks.

There might be a benefit for him to sign a 1 year contract. He would still be an ERFA but I think any cap on what the team could pay him would be gone.

I don't think they can sign rookies to a 1 year contract or can they? It's my understanding that all drafted players are signed to a 4 year contract with the teams having the option of extending 1st rounders for a 5th year. I learned yesterday that udfas are signed to a 3 year contract. The thing i'm not clear on is if the 3 years is the max.

If AdamJT is reading this, please chime in.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I don't think they can sign rookies to a 1 year contract or can they? It's my understanding that all drafted players are signed to a 4 year contract with the teams having the option of extending 1st rounders for a 5th year. I learned yesterday that udfas are signed to a 3 year contract. The thing i'm not clear on is if the 3 years is the max.

If AdamJT is reading this, please chime in.

Whether you can sign him for 1 year is irrelevant, the team would still control him through at least 3 years (restricted free agent) and more than likely 4 years.

 

[Hailmary]

I'm sure all the teams will offer the max... but like X mentioned, there are probably some creative things teams can do to entice him.

I can tell you this... if the guy is confident in his ability and wouldn't be intimidated in trying to win a starting spot on the best OL in football, Dallas will probably be high up on his list.

* Pretty close to Baton Rouge (only New Orleans is closer).
* Could become part of an epic OL for one of the premier franchises in all of professional sports.
* Could play for a team that has a run first mentality.
* Could play for a team that is supposed to compete for post season honors.
* Could play in the Taj Mahal of football stadiums.

If Dallas makes a push for him and gets creative... I think they'll have a shot at him.

I don't get the notion of him not wanting to come here because of the potential of not starting right away because he'll be going to the team with the best oline. If he signs here, pencil him in as your starting RT from game 1. Free's played well for us, but he's most likely not beating out Collins.

 

[xwalker]

I don't think they can sign rookies to a 1 year contract or can they? It's my understanding that all drafted players are signed to a 4 year contract with the teams having the option of extending 1st rounders for a 5th year. I learned yesterday that udfas are signed to a 3 year contract. The thing i'm not clear on is if the 3 years is the max.

If AdamJT is reading this, please chime in.

Those limits are on the max years that teams can sign those players. I don't think there is minimum. Either way he would have to believe that the team was going to give him a raise and not just tender him as an ERFA.

This situation seems perfect for Jerry to sweet talk the player and agent into signing with the Cowboys.

 

[xwalker]

Whether you can sign him for 1 year is irrelevant, the team would still control him through at least 3 years (restricted free agent) and more than likely 4 years.

Yes, the team is still in control. The issue is if a team wants to give him more money, what are the options. Somebody like Jerry could give him and the agent a verbal "promise" to bump his salary whenever possible under the rules.

 

[Hailmary]

Whether you can sign him for 1 year is irrelevant, the team would still control him through at least 3 years (restricted free agent) and more than likely 4 years.

You don't think being able to sign a one year contract is relevant? Because of his situation, his camp is going to want him to go somewhere where he can hit FA as quickly as possible.

 

[Hailmary]

Those limits are on the max years that teams can sign those players. I don't think there is minimum. Either way he would have to believe that the team was going to give him a raise and not just tender him as an ERFA.

This situation seems perfect for Jerry to sweet talk the player and agent into signing with the Cowboys.

Just looked it up:

Every undrafted rookie is locked into signing a three year contract. The three year contract will contain the minimum Paragraph 5 salary in each year, which will equal payouts of $435,000 in 2015, $525,000 in 2016, and $615,000 in 2017. These are the same numbers as rookies drafted after the 3rd round and many of the players drafted in the third round, so it is not a major loss for Collins of any player who was not projected to be a 2nd round pick.

http://overthecap.com/what-can-lael-collins-earn-as-an-undrafted-free-agent/

 

[Hailmary]

I just read the overthecap article. Interesting stuff and one I highly recommend.

 

[Nightman]

You get a 3yr contract as a UDFA and the team can offer him a RFA tender in year 4. A first round tender would be over 4m by 2018 so he won't be too far off of late 1st round money after 4 years.

Drafted at 27= 4yr/7.9m with a 5th year option
UDFA= 3yr/1.5m with a 4th year at 4m for a 1st round tender. Teams CAN guarantee the full 1.5m in salaries for the 3 years.

He could also cash in on the pay for play bonus money based on snaps played. Ronald Leary got an additional 280k and JJ Wilcox got 250k this year. The league leader got 370k.

UDFAs can be extended after 2 years compared to 3 years for drafted players.

Since teams are only allotted around 80k for signing bonuses for all UDFAs there is no advantage to be had there.

The only edge would be gained by guaranteeing the whole contract and extending the player after 2 years.

It all comes down to what team he wants to join.