La'el Collins will sign as a free agent

[chiefzilla1501]

According to Gil Brandt on Sirius/XM radio. He will sign with an NFL team and that means he'll pretty much play at a minimum contract.

Sounds like he's talking with investigators early next week.

Go get him, Dorsey!

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by Miles

Does the rookie FA system allow money to be thrown at FA rookies? Assuming he didn't do murder things this is a really odd instance of a 1st round guy floating around as a rookie FA.

Technically he's an undrafted FA so yes, it's essentially a bidding war for his services, right?

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

Technically he's an undrafted FA so yes, it's essentially a bidding war for his services, right?

No. Money barely plays a role because almost every offer will be the same due to salary restrictions on UDFAs. He will pick the place that offers him the best situation to succeed and earn a lucrative second contract.

[Mother****erJones]

I would think we'd have a good shot if we're interested. He would probably win the RG job

[Tombstone RJ]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Nope. Maximum undrafted rookie salary (think it's about $400K) and very strict rules about max bonuses.

I'm sure the NFL was trying to avoid situations like this where a player can get paid a shitload of money even if they went undrafted.

Hmm, don't know about this. Collins declared for the draft, he went undrafted. It's not like he was trying to manipulate the system. Yes, he tried to undeclare but the NFL said no. So now he's an undrafted FA. Is there a limit to how much an undrafted FA can make?

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Tombstone RJ

Hmm, don't know about this. Collins declared for the draft, he went undrafted. It's not like he was trying to manipulate the system. Yes, he tried to undeclare but the NFL said no. So now he's an undrafted FA. Is there a limit to how much an undrafted FA can make?

Yes. There are very strict caps on max base salary and max signing bonus a UDFA can make -- a smart move by the NFL to make sure every player was incentivized to want to be drafted. That's a good thing. There is also a very small cap for how much a team can pay in total for all UDFAs. I'm guessing that was to prevent certain teams for hoarding all UDFAs and forcing teams to be selective and smart about who they bring in.

In other words, La'el Collins is going to make shitty money in his first contract. Really, really shitty. Doesn't matter what team it is. Every offer will look virtually the same so money really doesn't have anything to do with where he goes.

[oaklandhater]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Yes. There are very strict caps on max base salary and max signing bonus a UDFA can make -- a smart move by the NFL to make sure every player was incentivized to want to be drafted. That's a good thing. There is also a very small cap for how much a team can pay in total for all UDFAs. I'm guessing that was to prevent certain teams for hoarding all UDFAs and forcing teams to be selective and smart about who they bring in.

In other words, La'el Collins is going to make shitty money in his first contract. Really, really shitty. Doesn't matter what team it is. Every offer will look virtually the same so money really doesn't have anything to do with where he goes.

Which is why if he is found innocent it will suck for him that the NFL made him Guilty by association.

Cost him a ton of money.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by oaklandhater

Which is why if he is found innocent it will suck for him that the NFL made him Guilty by association.

Cost him a ton of money.

The fact that his agent told teams not to draft him leads me to believe his agent believed the NFL would let him re-enter the draft next year. I get that the situation was unique here, but can't help but wonder if they got bent over by the NFL trying to improvise a rule that doesn't yet exist. It seems nuts to me that they wouldn't open up special exceptions for players in unusual situations to enter the supplemental draft. Or at least state that they'll make a one-time exception for Collins then create a strict rule in case something like this happens in the future.

It could end up working for the Chiefs, which is great, but sucks for Collins.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by FringeNC

It's depressing that teams can't act rationally like that. Somehow drafting him is turning a blind eye towards domestic abuse -- as if a team would ever actually sign him if he was guilty.

Draft is full of unknowns...

Act rationally ?? What GM wants be potentially known for drafting a murderer knowing ahead of time the situation at hand ?? If he is guilty that GM is DONE for LIFE in the NFL. I guess you missed the wrath of the press on Goodell's debacle with Rice and then with Hardy and Peterson to follow shortly thereafter, and that was domestic abuse. No commissioner or GM will risk that again especially knowing the potential situation ahead of time even more when it is potential murder. Can you imagine the press then ?? Goodell's job is to protect the image of the shield and I assure you he probably sent a message to all 32 GMs that it would be wise if this kid were not drafted but rather signed as UDFA if he is cleared.

[FringeNC]

Originally Posted by Chiefshrink

Act rationally ?? What GM wants be potentially known for drafting a murderer knowing ahead of time the situation at hand ?? If he is guilty that GM is DONE for LIFE in the NFL. I guess you missed the wrath of the press on Goodell's debacle with Rice and then with Hardy and Peterson to follow shortly thereafter, and that was domestic abuse. No commissioner or GM will risk that again especially knowing the potential situation ahead of time even more when it is potential murder. Can you imagine the press then ?? Goodell's job is to protect the image of the shield and I assure you he probably sent a message to all 32 GMs that it would be wise if this kid were not drafted but rather signed as UDFA if he is cleared.

I know why teams didn't draft him. Too bad the lynch mob doesn't understand the drafting a player simply gives you an option contract to sign the player. Obviously, you don't sign Collins until he is cleared not only by the police but by NFL security.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by Mother****erJones

I would think we'd have a good shot if we're interested. He would probably win the RG job

Isn't he a LT ? If so, he won't have any interest in coming here to play RG.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Actually, what I read tonight is that it isn't the signing bonus, it's the actual salary where the money is generated.

Teams can get around the limit by splitting signing bonus and Paragraph 5 (base salary) guarantees. There's no limit on Paragraph 5 money.

I was reading this, but didn't really understand it.

So someone can offer more than another tEam for him?

[Mother****erJones]

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

Isn't he a LT ? If so, he won't have any interest in coming here to play RG.

I thought i seen him as T/G

[ChiliConCarnage]

I've never seen the reason he was rejected from the supp. draft. I assume it's because he already took part in the first few rounds of the regular draft? If so he or his agents made a very poor choice.

I think you're going to have to guarantee him the starting spot at RT. I think most coaches would really bristle at agreeing to do so.

He'd be a 2nd Eric Fisher for Reid. You're going to have to run him out there whether he's good or bad.

[DaKCMan AP]

Originally Posted by Chiefshrink

Act rationally ?? What GM wants be potentially known for drafting a murderer knowing ahead of time the situation at hand ?? If he is guilty that GM is DONE for LIFE in the NFL. I guess you missed the wrath of the press on Goodell's debacle with Rice and then with Hardy and Peterson to follow shortly thereafter, and that was domestic abuse. No commissioner or GM will risk that again especially knowing the potential situation ahead of time even more when it is potential murder. Can you imagine the press then ?? Goodell's job is to protect the image of the shield and I assure you he probably sent a message to all 32 GMs that it would be wise if this kid were not drafted but rather signed as UDFA if he is cleared.

Meanwhile an alleged rapist gets drafted #1 overall. It's hypocrisy. La'el hasn't been charged with anything at this point.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by DaKCMan AP

alleged rapist

Key word there is "alleged". Charges were dropped and he was cleared. How is that hypocrisy ?? Only Jameis knows what really happened and he has to live with himself IF he did anything. If La'el is thoroughly cleared let him play. So you are telling me "you" would be that one GM that would take that risk potentially hiring a murderer knowing that ahead of time?