Immediate Impact Rookies: Landon Collins

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The Giants traded up in the draft to select Landon Collins with the first pick in the 2nd round. I think this was one of the most brilliant moves in the draft, to select a player that many (including myself) thought should have gone in the first round. Collins seems as if he was on a consistent slide down draft boards throughout the entire draft process, which really surprised me. It seemed as if certain analysts thought he was something he wasn't, which was more of a ball hawking safety, yet the more tape they saw they knocked him down for it. I still believe he should have been at least a late first round pick based on what he actually is.

Collins is a physical, hard-hitting safety that can set a tempo for an entire defense, and works best when he can play in attack mode. His weaknesses are well known. He can be inconsistent in coverage, and he doesn't have that high end speed you would like in a safety. I have a fairly simple solution that can help cover up some of his weaknesses. Don't ask him to be Earl Thomas, let him play more like Kam Chancellor. He has the skill level to turn into a player that strikes fear into opponents just like Kam Chancellor, and the Giants would be smart to let him play that role for them.

I'm clearly a believer in Collins' skill set, but I also firmly believe that the Giants will use put him in positions to succeed. For the last several years, the Giants have seemingly needed to draft a linebacker. Drafting Landon Collins is just like drafting a linebacker, because he can have that impact against the run. They'll need to rely on him to make a difference in the run game more than the passing game, because the Giants might actually be pretty solid against the pass. They have a pair of great cornerbacks in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara, to go along with what should be a stellar pass rush. Another thing that is really good and really bad for Landon Collins is that the Giants have such little safety depth. The reason why it is good is because Landon Collins will be playing all year (barring injury) with no real threat to his playing time. Obviously the bad is that they are weak at safety, and they need Collins to step up immediately to help cover up the weaknesses they have there. Even though they are relying on Collins to make an impact immediately, I think the Nick Saban coached safety will step up and have a positive impact for the New York Giants right away.