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New York Giants: Should They Sign La’el Collins?

By Nikhil Potpally

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New York Giants: Should They Sign Former LSU Guard?

During the seven rounds of the 2015 NFL Draft, we did not hear LSU offensive tackle La’el Collins’s name called. This was due to ongoing speculation about his possible involvement in a serious murder investigation. The NFL certainly doesn’t want another Aaron Hernandez-type situation to emerge with one of their players, so all 32 teams took a cautious approach and did not select Collins.

There is one aspect of this whole “abandonment” which I find strange: Collins is not believed to be a suspect. He knew the person killed, but many reports (accuracy unknown) say that he was not involved in the murder and had no prior knowledge of the incident. Better safe than sorry is a good way to go, and there is no room for error in these situations.

However, many teams are now re-engaging talks with Collins and are attempting to sign him as an undrafted free agent. He was not allowed to withdraw from the draft to enter the supplemental draft or next year’s draft. Therefore, all 32 teams have the opportunity to sign him.

If his name is cleared and it is proven that he was not involved in any way to the issue, I strongly believe he would be an ideal fit for the New York Giants. Even though they took Ereck Flowers with their No. 9 overall pick, I believe Collins could be a superb addition.

Prior to his slip, he possessed first-round grades. In several mock drafts leading up to the big day, Collins was rated higher than Flowers. However, Flowers rose while Collins slightly dropped. If the Giants are somehow able to walk out of this offseason with two first round-level OL talent, it would be a significant victory for GM Jerry Reese. We all know the offensive line needs revamping, and Collins could be the final piece to the puzzle. At 6’4″ and 305 lbs, he has good framework and even won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy in the SEC.

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Signing undrafted free agents is cheaper than signing players coming through the draft. A first-round talent, nonetheless, filling a need should attract many teams. The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins are reportedly meeting with Collins, and I think the Giants should too. The Giants offense is more potent than either of those two teams’, and I think Collins would be interested coming here (he even gets to reunite with former teammate Odell Beckham Jr). It is a perfect fit for both parties involved, and the Giants would then be able to solve their biggest problem. Their passing game and running game could finally reach their potential, and a serious playoff run can be imminent.

After the murder case gets resolved and if Collins is subsequently cleared, I believe the Giants should make him their top priority to sign. He would significantly help this team and would bolster their offensive line immensely.

Next: How did the Giants fare in the Draft?

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