Jalen Collins: Seahawks Draft Profile

I consider myself a pretty nice guy. I don’t like talking bad about people, but in this situation, it’s my job. It absolutely blows my mind that Jalen Collins is being mocked to the Seattle Seahawks in the first round.

If you want proof that I’m really not some sad, negative person, criticizing people left and right behind a keyboard, you can read some of my other (more positive) reports on possible Seahawks draft targets such as Todd Gurley, Marcus Peters, Dorial Green-Beckham and a few others in the links at the bottom of the page.

But as I watch Jalen Collins, I don’t see a guy worth taking in the first three rounds, let alone in round one.

Jalen Collins Draft Profile: Strengths

Feb 23, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; LSU Tigers defensive back Jalen Collins runs the 40 yard dash during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The positives with Collins are pretty much all in his measurables. He clocked a 6.77 in the 3-cone drill (2nd among CB’s), an 11.32 in the 60-yard shuttle (7th), a 4.48 in the 40-yard dash (9th), and had a 36″ vertical (tied for 13th). Then throw in his size at 6’1″ with 32″ arms and he looks like your prototype NFL corner.

The combine has its place in scouting, but it is fallible. Game film, on the other hand, doesn’t lie.

The only plus ability I saw, was his ability to stay with receivers on the fade route and force them towards the sideline. But as I’ll explain below, he isn’t very good from there.

Jalen Collins Draft Profile: Weaknesses

I have watched every play from four games in Collins’ 2014 season, and here’s what I have concluded.

Collins has the tightest hips of any DB I’ve scouted. Which is weird, because his 3-cone time was pretty good, but every single slant pattern that was run against him in those four games was completed. Receivers get ridiculous amounts of separation on Collins out of their breaks.

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On fade routes, he typically does a good job of staying with the receiver, but he struggles mightily to make plays on the ball. He either doesn’t turn his head around in time, or he doesn’t find the ball.

He has the size and frame to be a physically dominant corner, but he is soft and shies away from contact. He often tries to arm tackle instead of squaring up a ball-carrier, and when he does, he is usually knocked backwards. In a game against Notre Dame, he was effectively stiff-armed by a QB. He also often doesn’t bother pursuing the runningback on plays not directly at him.

Jalen Collins Draft Profile: Any Chance Of Being A Seahawk?

You can see why some scouts think highly of Collins. He looks like a shutdown cornerback in the NFL in a workout, but he just isn’t the same with pads on. In my opinion, he’s the perfect mid-round gamble. He has the upside, but he isn’t anywhere near being able to contribute to an NFL team. The NFL Draft Advisory Board would agree, as they suggested that he remain at LSU for his senior season to improve his technique.

I know the argument is that you want guys who have the physical attributes with the potential to develop, and Collins definitely has that. But I don’t see him as a guy ready to play in the NFL for at least another two years.

It’s possible I’m way off with this. It’s possible that Collins ends up reaching his potential as a Seahawk, and this article is looked back on a few years from now like the Bleacher Report article that gave the Seahawks’ 2012 draft class an F is looked at now. But from what I’ve seen, I don’t think that will be the case. With Byron Maxwell possibly leaving in free agency, and Tharold Simon‘s slow development thus far, the Seahawks would be much better served looking elsewhere for their future CB opposite Richard Sherman.

For some more positive outlooks on possible Seattle Seahawks’ first round draft targets, click the links below!

Previous reports in the Seahawks Draft Profile series include:

Photo credit for all above pictures: USA Today Sports