With the 42nd pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select CB Jalen Collins out of LSU. This comes as a surprise as Atlanta already has two young promising cornerbacks in Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford. But Atlanta did finish dead last in pass defense last season and new Falcons HC Dan Quinn might want some firepower to build an elite secondary like he had in Seattle as their DC.
Collins has a rare combination of both size and speed from the cornerback position. I think Coach Quinn wants guys on his roster than can play fast and Jalen Collins looks to do that in the Falcons secondary.
This biggest concern about Jalen Collins is that he only made 10 career starts for Les Miles in Baton Rouge. That could be due in part to LSU usually having a very deep secondary to work with on former DC John Chavis who is now with division rival Texas A&M.
Scouts have praised ‘the triangle’ Collins possesses (size, weight, and speed) from the cornerback position. He most likely will be featured in nickel and dime packages for new DC Richard Smith and passing game coordinator Raheem Morris as he learns better technique to play more snaps.
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With his obvious physical traits, Collins has a very high ceiling as a defensive back for the Atlanta Falcons. But his inexperience in SEC play may make this pick more of a work in progress at the moment.
Coach Quinn has harped on what a player can do as opposed to what he can’t do. Look to see new Atlanta Falcons CB Jalen Collins slowly but surely work his way into the defensive back rotation for the Dirty Birds.
Congratulations, Jalen Collins. ATL All Day welcomes you to Atlanta! Looking forward to seeing what you can become in this revamped Falcons defense.