Landon Collins NFL Draft 2015: Scouting Report, Grade for Giants' 2nd-Round Pick

STRENGTHS

Landon Collins is an impact defender with blue-chip potential at the safety position. He has an NFL build and uses his size well. He's a bully when attacking the ball. Collins gets typecast as an in-the-box safety, but he played both free and strong safety at Alabama and looked good in single-high coverage when healthy during his junior season. He has downhill skills to be sure, but he can get depth and read-and-react to the ball in the air.

Collins does excel as an attacker, and you want him around the ball—which is why Alabama put him in the box as its edge talent decreased. He's big enough to stack up blockers and get through traffic and plays with a pissed-off mentality. Collins is fluid if not blazing fast and is able to compensate for a lack of elite speed with size, awareness and instincts. He lives around the football and led Alabama in tackles in 2014. He can match up in coverage against backs and take away tight ends at the line of scrimmage. His feet are quick enough to shuffle and mirror at the line, but he uses his length and power well to jam and stick tight ends to the line.

WEAKNESSES

Collins doesn’t have the straight-line speed to run downfield with Jimmy Graham or other speedy tight ends. He doesn’t catch the ball cleanly and won’t likely be a turnover machine in the NFL. Small injuries affected Collins’ speed and agility in 2014, and you can’t get away from the thought that Alabama players come in to the NFL maxed out and beat up. In man coverage, he can struggle to locate and attack the ball (see Ole Miss game).

2014 STATISTICS

Tackles 102
Passes Defended 7
Interceptions 3

PRO COMPARISON: Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings

A game-changing prospect with the ability to play free or strong safety, Collins matches up well with Harrison Smith both physically and in style of play.

FINAL GRADE: 6.90/9.00 (Rookie Starter)