For the first actual post about football, I may as well write about something current. La’el Collins who went undrafted in this past weekends NFL draft, for reasons I won’t get into in detail, is now being courted by what will most likely be every single NFL team as an UDFA. Why wouldn’t every team be tempted to woo him to their franchise anyways? He was a first round talent that went undrafted because he was to be questioned by the police for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, yet he is/was not a suspect. It’s looking more and more like he wasn’t involved in this at all, but NFL teams had to make sure especially after the Aaron Hernandez incident, which is why he was not drafted. So now there is a first round talent of an offensive tackle that can sign a UDFA contract with any team he wants. I have no idea who is going to sign him, but looking at the current field of NFL teams and their O-lines, there are definitely a few teams that should be begging him to sign with them.
The Favourites
The Buffalo Bills
The Bills have a brand new coach, a revamped roster, and a whole new attitude. Basically the only thing they don’t have is a QB. So what do you do when you don’t have a QB? How about stack the rest of the roster with as much talent as possible. The Bills have done a good job with that this off-season, adding Percy Harvin, LeSean McCoy, Charles Clay and possibly most importantly, Sexy Rexy. The Bills still are lacking some talent up front, as their O-line was 20th in pass blocking and 26th in run blocking, according to Football Outsiders. Their LT Cordy Glenn is a good football player, but there is a big hole at right tackle that was manned by Seantrel Henderson last year. La’el could slide in immediately and be a huge upgrade for a Bills team that needs all the blocking up front they can get. They’re in a tough spot on the O-line, because other then Glenn, the only semi-reliable player is Eric Wood. Incognito is a complete question mark at this point, and Chris Williams is not a good starter either. So whether it’s Manuel, Taylor or Matt Cassel, the Bills need to win battles at the line, and signing Collins as an immediate starter alleviates a lot of the pressure off of whoever is lining up under centre for Buffalo come September.
The Seattle Seahawks
Clearly everybody has heard how scary the Seahawks are going to be next year. “They have Jimmy Graham now! How will anybody stop them now?” Stop it. I don’t get how everybody can just ignore the Seahawks issues on the line. After trading Max Unger, arguably their best offensive linemen; in my opinion, the only reliable starter on that line is Russell Okung, and last year Okung wasn’t even that great either. It’s simple for the Seahawks. They need to sell to La’el that you are one of the best teams in the NFL, and he can join an immediate Super Bowl contender (which no other team that should immediately start him is), and play him at right tackle because he wants to play tackle for a team. I know how much the Seahawks apparently like Justin Britt, but you can slide Britt inside. If they do that their O-line will be better and more athletic, and it will ideally be able to keep up with the rest of their transformed offense.
The Carolina Panthers
This one should be pretty straight forward so I’m not going to waste anybody’s time. The Panthers should NOT be playing Michael Oher at left tackle. Period. La’el Collins can be a good left tackle very early in his career. Problem solved.
On top of that who wouldn’t want to protect Cam Newton, and Carolina is a pretty good team too.
The Dark Horses
The Miami Dolphins
Apparently quite a few former LSU players that are currently on the Miami Dolphins are trying to recruit Collins. It makes sense I guess. The Dolphins are really lacking talent at guard, so Collins would be a day 1 starter, but at guard. This is an issue as the word is he wants to play tackle, but other then that it could be a very good fit for him. He gets to start from day 1, he is clearly wanted, the Dolphins are a more talented team then people think, and if Ryan Tannehill takes a few steps forward this season, maybe they’re a playoff team. Sneaky, sneaky Dolphins…
The Minnesota Vikings
On twitter there is a Vikings fan who is trying to woo La’el Collins. It is the funniest thing I’ve seen all week and I suggest you go find it. Apart from that, the Vikings do make a lot of sense though. I think the organization is hoping for a Matt Kalil resurgence, but if that doesn’t happen, the Vikings are not in a good position on the O-line. The franchise is clearly investing in Teddy Bridgewater, and what better way to invest in Bridgewater then give him a second or two more in the pocket. La’el could be an immediate starter at guard or right tackle (depending on if they want to move Phil Loadholt to guard), and it would also give Adrian Peterson some more strength upfront, which is really important for a successful season from the Vikings.
If I had to take a shot in the dark, I say La’el winds up with the Panthers. They’re probably the only team in the NFL where he could start at LT immediately, and clearly left tackles make all the big bucks in football. It’s definitely going to be entertaining watching teams scramble to sign him, lets just hope he doesn’t go to anybody who reads this rival NFL team.
The Favourites
The Buffalo Bills
The Bills have a brand new coach, a revamped roster, and a whole new attitude. Basically the only thing they don’t have is a QB. So what do you do when you don’t have a QB? How about stack the rest of the roster with as much talent as possible. The Bills have done a good job with that this off-season, adding Percy Harvin, LeSean McCoy, Charles Clay and possibly most importantly, Sexy Rexy. The Bills still are lacking some talent up front, as their O-line was 20th in pass blocking and 26th in run blocking, according to Football Outsiders. Their LT Cordy Glenn is a good football player, but there is a big hole at right tackle that was manned by Seantrel Henderson last year. La’el could slide in immediately and be a huge upgrade for a Bills team that needs all the blocking up front they can get. They’re in a tough spot on the O-line, because other then Glenn, the only semi-reliable player is Eric Wood. Incognito is a complete question mark at this point, and Chris Williams is not a good starter either. So whether it’s Manuel, Taylor or Matt Cassel, the Bills need to win battles at the line, and signing Collins as an immediate starter alleviates a lot of the pressure off of whoever is lining up under centre for Buffalo come September.
The Seattle Seahawks
Clearly everybody has heard how scary the Seahawks are going to be next year. “They have Jimmy Graham now! How will anybody stop them now?” Stop it. I don’t get how everybody can just ignore the Seahawks issues on the line. After trading Max Unger, arguably their best offensive linemen; in my opinion, the only reliable starter on that line is Russell Okung, and last year Okung wasn’t even that great either. It’s simple for the Seahawks. They need to sell to La’el that you are one of the best teams in the NFL, and he can join an immediate Super Bowl contender (which no other team that should immediately start him is), and play him at right tackle because he wants to play tackle for a team. I know how much the Seahawks apparently like Justin Britt, but you can slide Britt inside. If they do that their O-line will be better and more athletic, and it will ideally be able to keep up with the rest of their transformed offense.
The Carolina Panthers
This one should be pretty straight forward so I’m not going to waste anybody’s time. The Panthers should NOT be playing Michael Oher at left tackle. Period. La’el Collins can be a good left tackle very early in his career. Problem solved.
On top of that who wouldn’t want to protect Cam Newton, and Carolina is a pretty good team too.
The Dark Horses
The Miami Dolphins
Apparently quite a few former LSU players that are currently on the Miami Dolphins are trying to recruit Collins. It makes sense I guess. The Dolphins are really lacking talent at guard, so Collins would be a day 1 starter, but at guard. This is an issue as the word is he wants to play tackle, but other then that it could be a very good fit for him. He gets to start from day 1, he is clearly wanted, the Dolphins are a more talented team then people think, and if Ryan Tannehill takes a few steps forward this season, maybe they’re a playoff team. Sneaky, sneaky Dolphins…
The Minnesota Vikings
On twitter there is a Vikings fan who is trying to woo La’el Collins. It is the funniest thing I’ve seen all week and I suggest you go find it. Apart from that, the Vikings do make a lot of sense though. I think the organization is hoping for a Matt Kalil resurgence, but if that doesn’t happen, the Vikings are not in a good position on the O-line. The franchise is clearly investing in Teddy Bridgewater, and what better way to invest in Bridgewater then give him a second or two more in the pocket. La’el could be an immediate starter at guard or right tackle (depending on if they want to move Phil Loadholt to guard), and it would also give Adrian Peterson some more strength upfront, which is really important for a successful season from the Vikings.
If I had to take a shot in the dark, I say La’el winds up with the Panthers. They’re probably the only team in the NFL where he could start at LT immediately, and clearly left tackles make all the big bucks in football. It’s definitely going to be entertaining watching teams scramble to sign him, lets just hope he doesn’t go to anybody who reads this rival NFL team.
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