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

[ABQCOWBOY]

I don't think we're going to be able to beat them... this sucks.

I don't think we're going to be able to beat them... this sucks.

And Tannehill. Don't forget about Tannehill.

Miami signs a lot of big name FAs but they don't keep many of them. If you are an FA and you are looking to get big money on our second contract, I am not sure Miami is the best place to do that. JMO

 

[Nightman]

Last year Lewan was taken at #11. He got a contract for 4 years and about 12M. A 7th round pick will get about 2M in his first 4 years. That's 10M that he could gain by re-entering the draft.

He could get 4m in 2018 as a RFA. That would help close the gap.

And he could be extended after 2 years instead of three for draftees.

 

[Stash]

Right now, I believe he is still rehabbing but I believe he is scheduled to be healthy by TC.

OK, so that would give Collins a jump start for all of the offseason work leading up to that point.

But truthfully, I think the better fit is at LG replacing Leary. I don't see it as any stretch to think he could replace him and do a better job. And then with a year under his belt, you could explore the option of replacing Free at RT in 2016 if you really wanted to.

But I think it would be great for Collins to slide in between Smith and Fredrick and get that Pro Bowl rub, exposure, and experience along the way.

The Great Wall would become that much greater.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Leary doesn't have bad knees. He has a condition that if he gets injured he may never recover from it.

Collins would be no sure thing to beat out Leary or Free, continuity is huge for an OL

I think he's a lock to beat out Leary. I think that he would not beat out Free but it wouldn't matter. In a year or two, max, Free is gone and either Martin or Collins would be the RT. JMO

 

[AzorAhai]

He would in all likelihood be the starting LG game 1 with the possibility of starting at RT year 2 or 3. Either situation he will be playing next to All-Pro talent players beside him. If he's looking at his next deal, how much better are you going to look than playing on this OL? Not to mention, Cowboys players always seem to be highly coveted for some reason.

This bonus $ stuff is ridiculous. He's not going to decide his future based on an extra 40k signing bonus. Most udfa prioritize the signing bonus because they are much more likely to never see a 2nd deal. To those saying it's such a big deal because he didn't get paid in college, then why was he prepared to sit out if drafted? He was willing to not get paid a dime for a year, but will decide his best suitor based on a 40k signing bonus? Not to mention these agents routinely front their players money.

It's going to come down to the best shot at PT on the best team. If the Cowboys decide he will be an upgrade at LG and tell him he will be an immediate starter, I cant see another team being a better fit. If they want him to sit a year and then take over, he probably goes elsewhere.

 

[Stash]

Leary doesn't have bad knees. He has a condition that if he gets injured he may never recover from it.

Actually, he has a degenerative condition where they don't know how long it will hold up:

"Leary has a degenerative disorder in his left knee called osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) that causes the bone that supports the cartilage to soften because of a discontinuation of blood flow to that area."

Collins would be no sure thing to beat out Leary or Free, continuity is huge for an OL

Agree to disagree.

Collins is a top 15 1st round talent. I have no doubts that he would beat out an undrafted free agent and this line's weakest link.

That's not a knock on Leary, it's a compliment to both Collins and the quality of the rest of the line.

 

[Nightman]

I think he's a lock to beat out Leary. I think that he would not beat out Free but it wouldn't matter. In a year or two, max, Free is gone and either Martin or Collins would be the RT. JMO

Collins would be a great luxury as this point. He is a top round talent that would compete for LG or RT or swing OT right away.

I just don't see Dallas making a change on the OL until needed. That unit gelled last year and keeping them together was the big reason they chose Free over paying Parnell IMO.

This would be one of those 'good problems' and he is well worth the effort.

 

[Nightman]

Actually, he has a degenerative condition where they don't know how long it will hold up:

"Leary has a degenerative disorder in his left knee called osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) that causes the bone that supports the cartilage to soften because of a discontinuation of blood flow to that area."



Agree to disagree.

Collins is a top 15 1st round talent. I have no doubts that he would beat out an undrafted free agent and this line's weakest link.

That's not a knock on Leary, it's a compliment to both Collins and the quality of the rest of the line.

You keep calling Leary an UDFA, but that is exactly what Collins will be.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Collins would be a great luxury as this point. He is a top round talent that would compete for LG or RT or swing OT right away.

I just don't see Dallas making a change on the OL until needed. That unit gelled last year and keeping them together was the big reason they chose Free over paying Parnell IMO.

This would be one of those 'good problems' and he is well worth the effort.

The Cowboys, IMO, would change any of the starting OLs if they felt like somebody behind them was better. Free and Leary are both short for the road in Dallas. The Cowboys have to start thinking about what they are going to do at LG and RT. If not, they are going to get caught flatfooted when that left hook lands home.

 

[Stash]

You keep calling Leary an UDFA, but that is exactly what Collins will be.

Would you consider their circumstances remotely the same?

 

[DBOY3141]

Collins would be a great luxury as this point. He is a top round talent that would compete for LG or RT or swing OT right away.

I just don't see Dallas making a change on the OL until needed. That unit gelled last year and keeping them together was the big reason they chose Free over paying Parnell IMO.

This would be one of those 'good problems' and he is well worth the effort.

On the flip side, I wonder what they think of Leary. I know they like him, but how long do they want to commit to him. They extended Beasley, but haven't done anything with Leary. I know Beasley is probably going to be cheaper, but I would think it's also much easier to find a slot receiver than a solid LG.

 

[Nightman]

Would you consider their circumstances remotely the same?

Actually I would.

A lot of teams thought highly of Leary before the draft.

He fell because of concerns with his knees.

Knowing what they know now he would be a first or second round pick

 

[AzorAhai]

The Cowboys, IMO, would change any of the starting OLs if they felt like somebody behind them was better. Free and Leary are both short for the road in Dallas. The Cowboys have to start thinking about what they are going to do at LG and RT. If not, they are going to get caught flatfooted when that left hook lands home.

I can only see Leary back after this season on a very incentive based, team friendly deal. The higher upside of Collins and the doubtful future of Leary here play a big role in why I would have no problem moving Leary to b/u or trade and having Collins be the starter.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

I'd sooner sign Collins who is a (so far)innocent man and take the chance I guessed wrong than knowingly sign the low life we did this offseason who we know what he did . I can live with taking a gamble like that. Doesn't reflect poorly on my character to sign Collins. I'm not a detective. It reflects poor character to sign hardy, RKG lol

 

[Stash]

On the flip side, I wonder what they think of Leary. I know they like him, but how long do they want to commit to him. They extended Beasley, but haven't done anything with Leary. I know Beasley is probably going to be cheaper, but I would think it's also much easier to find a slot receiver than a solid LG.

How long do you want to trust that knee to hold up? It's one thing when you're paying minimal contract money but quite another with guarantees involved.

 

[Galian Beast]

Would you consider their circumstances remotely the same?

Not the same circumstances, but circumstances did make them both UDFA.

Leary's skill isn't what made him go undrafted, it was his knees. I remember Callahan saying he was one of the most nfl ready guard in the draft that year.

 

[Stash]

Actually I would.

A lot of teams thought highly of Leary before the draft.

He fell because of concerns with his knees.

Which is a physical condition which could affect on-field performance and availability. When Collins has his issue behind him, it's gone, never to return. Leary's condition will always be an issue.

Knowing what they know now he would be a first or second round pick

That's purely speculative. If you could show me where anyone had him graded there, I could agree with you. Collins is a consensus 1st rounder everywhere and Top 15 for many.

I'm not knocking Leary, merely saying he can and should be upgraded if we can.

 

[Galian Beast]

So Leary could have been a 3rd rounder, but has bad knees while Collins would have been a first rounder if not for something totally unrelated to football.

Collins' issues will be behind him while Leary's will be there forever.

But the reality of it all is that Collins would play between two young Pro Bowlers and would have to beat out an undrafted free agent on a one year contract to do it.

And as I said in the other post, Collins has 13 games worth of experience at LG already.

I'm saying the difference in pedigree isn't as much as you suggest, and the difference in experience and chemistry is significant.

 

[DBOY3141]

How long do you want to trust that knee to hold up? It's one thing when you're paying minimal contract money but quite another with guarantees involved.

I think in the back of their mind that is a factor. Collins would be a huge addition. Hopefully JJ and JG are using all of their LSU connections on Collins

 

[xwalker]

Actually, he has a degenerative condition where they don't know how long it will hold up:

"Leary has a degenerative disorder in his left knee called osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) that causes the bone that supports the cartilage to soften because of a discontinuation of blood flow to that area."



Agree to disagree.

Collins is a top 15 1st round talent. I have no doubts that he would beat out an undrafted free agent and this line's weakest link.

That's not a knock on Leary, it's a compliment to both Collins and the quality of the rest of the line.

Leary's knee is not really degenerative. It is probably in the same condition that it was when he was drafted. Degenerative is a condition that continues to get worse which is not his issue. Jonathan Vilma had the same condition and played 10 years. It is like having a house in an area where tornados are frequent. The house is not degenerating, but has a higher probability a of failure (being hit by a tornado) than houses in other areas of the country.