About a week before the 2015 NFL draft, troubling news surfaced involving former LSU offensive lineman La’el Collins and due to the news Collins was not drafted during the three day, seven round process. Collins’ ex-girlfriend was tragically murdered and police in Baton Rouge wanted to talk to Collins who was never named a suspect. Although not being named a suspect or arrested, no NFL took the risk of drafting a man who was largely viewed as the best offensive lineman in the draft. Welp, that man now has a home in the NFC East.
Yesterday afternoon, the Dallas Cowboys and former LSU star La’el Collins agreed to a three year deal worth over $1.65 millions, millions less than what he would have grossed as a first round selection.
According to ESPN,
The Cowboys fully guaranteed the three-year, $1.65 million deal, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Because Collins did not have his first-round moment, as owner Jerry Jones called it, the Cowboys went the unorthodox route of having a press conference for an undrafted free agent “because this is not your typical undrafted free agent,” Jones said.
“I got a call from Mr. Jones a couple nights ago, late around 11 o’clock,” Collins said. “We had a long conversation, man and that was the first time I really felt like somebody seeing me for who I am. Somebody understood the guy, that I went back to school my senior year because I wanted to be something special. I wanted to do everything I had to do to put myself in a great position and I sat down with him. He believed in me, he trusted me and I couldn’t have asked for anything else. I couldn’t be in a greater situation. I couldn’t be in a greater place. I just want to thank Mr. Jones, his family this organization and everybody that is standing behind me because I guarantee you this: I’m going to give this organization everything I have and more. This is going to be the best offensive line in NFL history. Mark my words.”
Collins, who also will receive a $21,000 signing bonus, 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.
Collins was questioned by Baton Rouge, Louisiana, investigators about Brittney Mills’ death on April 24. Although he is 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.
With Collins joined the Dallas Cowboys, the Cowboys could suit up the best offensive line in the NFL but of course, only time will tell. Did the Cowboys make the right decision signing Collins? Let us know below and stay tuned to HHS1987 for all your sports news.
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