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

[DBOY3141]

He most likely go to a team where he could start right away on a bad line. That might be Tampa or the Commanders at this point.

ESPN saying the Commanders say they will not pursue him.

 

[Leadbelly]

He's not a LT. He's a RT or G.

Only way to prove he can is to sign where he can play Left Tackle. He doesn't care what you or anyone else thinks he is.

 

[LittleD]

He's a better player today than Leary or Free.

Looks like the Jets & Bills are 1st on his list as of this morning. We drafted two tackles and have Free
playing this year so most likely he will gravitate to somewhere he's needed more.

 

[Hailmary]

Looks like the Jets & Bills are 1st on his list as of this morning. We drafted two tackles and have Free
playing this year so most likely he will gravitate to somewhere he's needed more.

Did he or his agent say that they are 1st on his list?

 

[Hailmary]

Only way to prove he can is to sign where he can play Left Tackle. He doesn't care what you or anyone else thinks he is.

So he should ignore all the scouting reports that suggest he is better suited for RT than LT?

 

[LittleD]

Did he or his agent say that they are 1st on his list?

Here is a source where I read the planned meetings.
http://www.theredzone.org/BlogDescr...a-el-Collins-meets-with-Rex-Ryan/Default.aspx

 

[CATCH17]

Did he or his agent say that they are 1st on his list?

Why on earth would the Jets and Bills be the first on anyones list?

Especially if you are from the South?

Dallas needs to get in on this.

The only problem he could run into here is I doubt we would be able to resign him if he turns out to be elite.

 

[Leadbelly]

So he should ignore all the scouting reports that suggest he is better suited for RT than LT?

Of course he should ignore them. It's his life. He should be an advocate for himself rather than shrug his shoulders and fall into line with what some other people believe he can be. There are 32 teams. They don't all have the same scouting report.

If he believes he's a LT, he should sign with a team that believes he's a LT and has an opportunity at LT. If he fails at it, then they'll move him. But no team is going to assume he can't play LT and never try him there. It's too hard to find good ones and this one is basically a free look.

 

[Hailmary]

Here is a source where I read the planned meetings.
http://www.theredzone.org/BlogDescr...a-el-Collins-meets-with-Rex-Ryan/Default.aspx

I don't think you can read too much into this. He most definitely has his preferences but he's probably likely to meet with a lot more teams in the weeks to come so he and his agent can compare and contrast what teams are willing to offer. Due diligence on his agent's part.

 

[speedkilz88]

I wouldn't bet against Jerry and Stephen, but I'll be shocked if this guy isn't looking for Left Tackle openings. We have a lot to offer, but we can't offer him that.

He's a G/RT type like Zack Martin.

 

[LittleD]

Why on earth would the Jets and Bills be the first on anyones list?

Especially if you are from the South?

Dallas needs to get in on this.

The only problem he could run into here is I doubt we would be able to resign him if he turns out to be elite.

I don't believe he was on their 30 player visit list so they may have minimum interest.

 

[LittleD]

I don't think you can read too much into this. He most definitely has his preferences but he's probably likely to meet with a lot more teams in the weeks to come so he and his agent can compare and contrast what teams are willing to offer. Due diligence on his agent's part.

I would think he might like the Jets over the Bills because NY city has a lot of pull for these young guys.

 

[Hailmary]

Of course he should ignore them. It's his life. He should be an advocate for himself rather than shrug his shoulders and fall into line with what some other people believe he can be. There are 32 teams. They don't all have the same scouting report.

If he believes he's a LT, he should sign with a team that believes he's a LT and has an opportunity at LT. If he fails at it, then they'll move him. But no team is going to assume he can't play LT and never try him there. It's too hard to find good ones and this one is basically a free look.

Yes there are teams that are desperate for a LT that may give him the spot from day one of TC, but that may not necessarily be the best case scenario for him. His priority should be to go somewhere with the best chance to succeed as quickly as possible so he can put himself in the best possible situation to sign a lucrative contract after year 2 when he can restructure his deal.

There may be players who could've extended there careers if they weren't so stubborn and accepted position changes.

 

[BoysWin]

Yeah, that's just what I'm picturing. Dominant and young!

I know I'm biased as a Cowboys fan, but if I had my pick of teams to sign with and all things being equal, I think the Cowboys have several factors in their favor:

1. They're coming off of a 12-4 season
2. They're as talented an offense overall as anywhere in the league
3. You'd go into a situation where you're not forced to be a savior
4. No matter where you line up, you've got a young Pro Bowler playing next to you
5. You're playing for the Cowboys, one of, if not the highest profile team(s) in the league

My fingers are crossed!

La'el Collins had pre-draft visits with RAVENS, LIONS, DOLPHINS, SAINTS, RAMS
He probably gets a chance to start ASAP with another team, but if he can consider playing for DAL and replace Leary or Free next season - that is a WOWSA!

 

[Leadbelly]

Why on earth would the Jets and Bills be the first on anyones list?

Especially if you are from the South?

Dallas needs to get in on this.

The only problem he could run into here is I doubt we would be able to resign him if he turns out to be elite.

I say this every time the U of Maryland loses out on a basketball recruit to friggin' Syracuse. I can understand the appeal of NYC. Upstate NY, I just don't get it. They must have some secret sauce up there.

 

[Hailmary]

I would think he might like the Jets over the Bills because NY city has a lot of pull for these young guys.

He and his agent should target a team with the next contract already in mind.

 

[jterrell]

The rookie wage scale will prevent him from getting any kind of big deal. The most he can make in somewhere around $520k (which also includes his signing bonus).

Correct, but that 520k can be fully guaranteed as can all 3 years of his UDFA deal.
Almost no rookie gets that.

That's a far cry from what most 6th and 7th round guys get.
And he has a 3 year deal, not a 4.

If he is able to perform he will get paid big money much sooner than everyone else.
He can be renegotiated in his 2nd season.

 

[LittleD]

He and his agent should target a team with the next contract already in mind.

I think most teams are going to be limited to what they can offer him on a 1st UDFA contract that lasts for 4 years and has limits
placed on teams for the amount of money by CBA terms. In this type of case, it makes most sense for the young man to pick
a team that needs line help and a corresponding city that has the night life coveted.

 

[Leadbelly]

Yes there are teams that are desperate for a LT that may give him the spot from day one of TC, but that may not necessarily be the best case scenario for him. His priority should be to go somewhere with the best chance to succeed as quickly as possible so he can put himself in the best possible situation to sign a lucrative contract after year 2 when he can restructure his deal.

There may be players who could've extended there careers if they weren't so stubborn and accepted position changes.

That is the one argument I could see with Dallas. He would join the best OL in football as a G and possibly look like a superstar very early in his career. Though I would think the team would have to more or less guarantee him a starting spot before he'd consider that path. Maybe swap Leary for a RB.

Seems very unlikely we could sign him down the road, but we could get a draft pick for him. Maybe a first rounder. Especially if teams think he can be a LT vs knowing he can't.

 

[Hailmary]

I think most teams are going to be limited to what they can offer him on a 1st UDFA contract that lasts for 4 years and has limits
placed on teams for the amount of money by CBA terms. In this type of case, it makes most sense for the young man to pick
a team that needs line help and a corresponding city that has the night life coveted.

I think for udfas, it's more like 3yrs with the option to restructure after 2. I could be mistake though.