Jameis Winston will be looked upon as a potential savior for a Buccaneers franchise that just suffered through a two-win season, and even though he'll have massive talents at wide receiver and tight end, Winston still requires hogs up front to block for him. No stranger to off-the-field controversy, Winston is naturally trying to pull strings for LSU tackle La'el Collins.
Who's recruiting La'el Collins most aggressively? #Bucs QB Jameis Winston is right up there. Pushing hard for Collins to come to Tampa Bay.
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) May 5, 2015
It's a bit unfair to lump Collins in with Winston. Collins was a first-round talent who went completely undrafted after his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Brittney Mills, was shot and killed ahead of the NFL Draft. Baton Rouge police wanted to speak with Collins about it-and said he was not a suspect in the killing-but NFL teams wary of controversy after Aaron Hernandez's recent murder conviction completely backed off.
Collins spoke with Baton Rouge authorities on Monday, and said he has a solid alibi for the night Mills was shot. Collins said he was attending a New Orleans Pelicans playoff game when she was killed, and said phone GPS records will back him up. Police have maintained he is not a suspect, and the Buffalo Bills are already showing interest.
Bills head coach Rex Ryan reportedly had dinner with Collins, who if exonerated, will project as a major bargain given his initial talent grade. First round talents as undrafted free agents do not come around often, and even if he's offered a deal on the high end of the undrafted free agent scale, it will be far below market value for a first round offensive tackle.
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