Landon Collins to New York Giants: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

The New York Giants shook things up to start the second round of the NFL draft, taking a player whom they hope will be able to shake up the league for many years to come. 

That pick, Alabama Crimson Tide safety Landon Collins (6’0”, 228 lbs), became the first draft pick off the board Friday night. The Giants swapped their second-round pick, No. 40 overall, with the Tennessee Titans to move up to No. 33.

The Giants also sent the Titans their fourth-round pick (No. 108 overall) and the seventh-round pick they got from the Denver Broncos last year in the Brandon McManus trade (No. 245 overall) to land a physical player whom they hope will provide attitude and, more importantly, stability to a defensive backfield that has two glaring holes at safety.

Listed as a strong safety by NFL Draft Scout, Collins is versatile enough for the Giants to use interchangeably at free safety, according to head coach Tom Coughlin.

“They kept saying over and over about being in the box. Well, that will be part of it, but you can’t play at safety at this level without defending the middle of the field, and I think he’ll be able to do that,” Coughlin told reporters after the Giants made the pick.

“Many times—what you see on film—he’s down low. He doesn’t get in a position where he can’t see the entire field, so the deepest is going to be a factor, no doubt. He’s very skilled; he’s very motivated. He’ll help us on special teams and will compete for a starting job.”

Collins, who was in Chicago on Thursday, made no secret of his disappointment over not being selected in the first round of the draft.

He decided to return home to his family to take his mind off the draft for a while but noted in a conference call with reporters that the first-round snub has left him more motivated than ever. 

“Definitely very motivated,” Collins said. “[Thursday] was a disappointment for me, not being selected in the first round. But other than that, I use it as a stepping stone and as motivation to showcase that I’m ready to play and step on the field and do what I’ve been doing since I was four years old.”

When asked if he was feeling any added pressure to exceed the Giants’ expectations, considering what they had to give up to get him, Collins said, “Not just them moving up, but it’s just me, the player that I am. I’m always—I’m a baller. Once I step on the field, I’m a different animal. Once I step on the field, that’s what they’re going to get, and there’s nothing that can change that motivation.”

In time, the Giants hope that Collins, who is a very outspoken young man, might be able to develop a leadership voice both on and off the field.

“Yes, I do, but you’re not going to see that right away,” Coughlin said when asked if he thought Collins could develop into a leader.

“You might see that on the field, but in terms of that, when a rookie comes in here, they have a lot of work to do. You have a lot to prove, and you do it by how hard you work, by leading from the front. If he does that on the field, then he’ll develop that platform going forward.”

Patricia Traina covers the Giants for Inside Football, the Journal Inquirer and Sports Xchange. All quotes and information were obtained firsthand unless otherwise sourced. 

Follow @Patricia_Traina.