Scouting Report: S Landon Collins- Alabama

Pros:

• Big, physical safety that excels as a hitter.
• Excellent when in the box and coming up in run support.
• Good speed, should be able to run with most tight ends.
• Solid cover skills overall.
• Experience at both safety spots and was asked to do a variety of things in college.
• Great in pursuit and a sure wrap-up tackler when he needs to be.

Cons:

• Will likely be more limited to a SS/in the box type of player at the next level.
• Ball skills are just okay.
• Has been known to fall for double moves.
• Can get over aggressive at times and try to jump one receiver in his zone, leaving another guy potentially open.

Overview:

There is little doubt that Landon Collins is the top safety in a weak class, but there are some legitimate questions about what that status means in terms of total draft value.

Collins is excellent in the box and versus the run, but that type of safety carries less value in today’s NFL. If there are coverage concerns, like there are with Collins it’s tough to justify spending a high 1st round pick on the player.

Collins should bring a lot of value in run support and coverage of intermediate throws, but teams will likely try to exploit match-ups vs him. They can take advantage of his aggressive nature with running double-moves on him or multiple receivers into his zone of coverage. Collins can also be exploited if he is forced to cover deep some as well.

Overall he’s a good strong safety prospect, but teams interested in him have to understand his limitations and try not to put him in bad situations early in his career.