The Top 25 NFL Rookies at Midseason – Mariota, Darby lead the way
La’El Collins, OG, Cowboys (Undrafted Free Agent)
La’El Collins is a first round talent who went undrafted because he was being questioned in a murder case involving a former girlfriend of his. The legal process played out just before the NFL draft, and NFL teams were leery of making any sort of high investment in Collins in case something bad were to happen.
Collins threatened to sit out the year if any team took him after the first round, so no one did. He ultimately signed with the team he wanted, the Dallas Cowboys, and has turned that opportunity into a starting job on what many believe to be the best offensive line in football.
La'el Collins on this play: When I step between those lines, that's my mentality, that's how I like to play the game pic.twitter.com/l9KAoOXT4C
— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) November 4, 2015
Dallas was extremely lucky in this draft to have already landed both Byron Jones and Randy Gregory, two first round players on most people’s boards, and then to get a third after the draft was a huge coup. Collins is already making a significant impact, and was obviously a great value for Dallas.
Next: Jordan Hicks