After Cornerback Defections, Jalen Collins Is First-Round Option for Packers

The LSU product is a distinct possibility to be taken with the 30th overall selection in the NFL Draft.

LSU cornerback Jalen Collins—USA TODAY Sports.

LSU cornerback Jalen Collins—USA TODAY Sports.

Now that Tramon Williams and Davon House are no longer members of the Packers, depth at cornerback in Green Bay is shot, perhaps increasing the odds that the team will address the position in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft.

The Packers have other needs too, but if Jalen Collins is still on the board when it's time to make the 30th overall selection, he stands out as a legitimate option.

Interestingly, the NFL's advisory committee recommended Collins stay in school for his senior season, but the LSU cornerback didn't heed its counsel.

"I felt like this was the best opportunity for me to maximize on the draft," said Collins at the NFL Combine. "I didn’t want to risk getting hurt coming back for another year."

Based on Collins' measurables, he stacks up with the top cornerbacks in this year's draft class.

Simply from a size standpoint, Collins has prototypical length and bulk teams look for in a starting cornerback at 6' 1" and 203 lbs.

What's remarkable, however, is Collins' athleticism for his size. Sometimes bigger cornerbacks are also slower, but not Collins, clocking in at 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Combine.

Also attracting attention is Collins' time of 6.77 seconds in the three-cone drill, an indication of elite change-of-direction skills, that was the fourth-fastest time among all defensive backs in Indianapolis.

"He's a press corner, not afraid to play in your face, will tackle, understands how to play the game, has some physicality about him," said NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock. "I think he's going to be a first-round pick."

It's a good thing Collins was impressive at the Combine because he wasn't able to take part at his pro-day workout on LSU's campus this past Friday after undergoing surgery on a broken foot in mid-March.

First reported by Gil Brandt of NFL.com, he adds that Collins should be ready for minicamp, hinting that the defensive back's injury is relatively minor.

If there was any doubt about the severity of Collins' injury, consider that it was discovered during the intense medical process at the Combine, and he was still able to take part in drills and put up impressive numbers regardless of the ailment.

Collins' health may be of paltry concern in the grand scheme of things, but the one thing that will give teams pause is his relative inexperience, having started only 10 games during his entire college career.

The decision by the LSU coaching staff to have Collins, a potential first round draft choice, come off the bench so frequently may be curious, but it's not something Collins holds against his mentors.

"The coaching we’ve had starting way back, holding guys to high standards, letting the young guys know it’s not going to be easy, they’re going to have to work," said Collins. "We expect our young guys to play and put their best effort forward."

As a redshirt freshman in 2012, Collins started one game and then the first two games of his sophomore season in 2013 before losing his grip on a starting job.

In 2014 Collins started seven contests, the first three games of the season and the last four. He only came by the opportunity because regular starter Rashard Robinson was suspended and has since left the program.

Whatever the reason, Collins made the most of his playing time as a junior, making 38 tackles, three for a loss and an interception. Even though official NCAA statistics have him down as breaking up nine passes on the year, LSU's in-house department says he broke up a remarkably high 17.

The past is past. Even though Collins is lacking in game-environment experience, he's young and doesn't have a lot of wear and tear, all reasons that will have him going early in the NFL Draft like other LSU defensive backs before him.

Patrick Peterson, Morris Claiborne and Eric Reid are just a few of the first-round talents produced by the LSU secondary in recent memory.

"At LSU, we pride ourselves on the coaching we have, being the best as far as defensive backs go," said Collins. "We hold ourselves to a very high standard. It started a long time ago and we just try to keep it going."

Not that it's a given, but any cornerback taken by the Packers in the first round has a chance to become an immediate starter.

Williams and House departed Green Bay to sign contracts averaging in excess of $6 million per year, leaving Sam Shields as the only proven commodity as a perimeter cornerback.

Casey Hayward, Micah Hyde and Demetri Goodson will all get a chance to fill the void, but none arguably have the raw talent possessed by Collins.

"(I) just gotta use what I’ve been given. Use my size. Be physical," said Collins. "Try to win."

 

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor at Cheesehead TV and its "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (9)

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NickPerry's picture

March 29, 2015 at 11:23 am

I keep hearing about this guy as a possible pick at 30 for Green Bay. Sorry can't get excited about a guy who started, was replaced after 3 games, then started again because another player was suspended.

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jeremyjjbrown's picture

March 29, 2015 at 12:02 pm

Yep, and certainly not in the first round. He just doesn't sound like Ted's type of guy.

Honestly, I don't think Thompson is as worked up over CB as some fans are. He probably thinks Shields, Hyde, Hayward et al. will be just fine, especially with the now passable talent at safety. CB is just not a position Ted goes in the first regularly. He will likely either trade the first or take a big man (OL, DL, LB) and probably a defensive player.

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Allan Murphy's picture

March 29, 2015 at 12:06 pm

Sorry but he is not first rounder for me round 2 player at best .

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stockholder's picture

March 29, 2015 at 12:57 pm

TT needs to Take BPA. Josh Shaw USC is 6'1, 4.44, 26 BP and Eric Rowe 6'1 4.45 19 BP have credentials for #62 and #94. The top ILb's may be gone before he picks.

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tm_inter's picture

March 29, 2015 at 01:10 pm

I'm not keen on taking any CB or ILB at No. 30 this year. I'd prefer to trade down and pick up an extra 3rd or 4th round draft pick in the process. Most available CBs and ILBs seem too mediocre to pick at No. 30. Might as well trade down and get an extra pick to add to roster.

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jh9's picture

March 29, 2015 at 03:47 pm

Although Jalen Collins may be available when the Packers draft in the 2nd round at #62, they will not draft him in the 1st round. I don't understand how anyone who follows the Packers and has watched Ted Thompson draft could think he would draft a CB in the 1st round this year. If he doesn’t re-sign Raji and Guion he might draft a DT, but not a CB. All things being equal, TT will always take a big man first unless he has a glaring need. Like last year when they had a glaring need for a S. But as any informed Packers fan knows they may need a quality CB, but right now they have a glaring need at ILB.

And there are very few NFL starting caliber ILBs to choose from in this year’s draft. Assuming the Packers don't sign a FA like Mason Foster and if they want to draft a possible ILB to start at the beginning of the season, they will have to draft one with their first pick. By the time the Packers pick at #62 in the 2nd round, all the quality ILBs will be gone. The Packers options are:
1) Draft an ILB with their 1st round pick at #30.
2) Trade out of the 1st round for a high 2nd round pick (and a later pick--possibly a 4th round pick).
3) Use pick #30 to draft for any position besides ILB like a CB and then trade up from #62 for an early pick in the 2nd round to get a staring caliber ILB and lose a draft pick with the trade.

Ted doesn’t lose draft picks.

IMO the Packers will either take a ILB with pick #30 or trade down for a high 2nd round pick and draft an ILB with that pick and then draft a CB with pick #62. Potential CBs available at #62--Alex Carter or Kevin Johnson or Jalen Collins or P.J. Williams or Byron Jones. All are really good CBs and would help the Packers this year.

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Handsback's picture

March 29, 2015 at 02:54 pm

Sounds like a 2nd round kind of guy. Lots of athletic ability, but not a lot of film to prove it.

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4thand1's picture

March 29, 2015 at 05:04 pm

How can you wrong with a guy named Collins? Pick him.

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EdsLaces's picture

March 30, 2015 at 10:09 am

Theve is no way you would take this guy over Kevin Johnson. .....not..a..chance.

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