Dec 6, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Darius White (8) fumbles the ball as Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Landon Collins (26) defends during the fourth quarter of the 2014 SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

Landon Collins, Alabama

(6’0″, 228)

As a lot of you may have heard this is not a good year if you’re looking for a safety early in the draft. All draft experts agree that Alabama’s Landon Collins is the only safety in the draft worth spending a first-round pick on. With Mike Adams playing the free safety role Collins would fit in perfectly as the strong safety in Greg Manusky’s defense.

Bleacher Report’s draft expert Matt Miller wrote about him:

Landon Collins can be a game-changer. His ability to play down in the box to stop the run or get depth in the passing game makes him a true rookie impact player. He has size, instincts, agility and the vision to take the ball away.

WalterFootball.com’s Walter Cherepinsky spent a few words on Collins too:

He is not a deep free safety who can cover receivers or tight ends in man coverage. That could hurt him on draft day. […] Collins had 103 tackles with seven passes broken up and three interceptions in 2014. He had a mixed game Iron Bowl as he was beaten for some pass receptions, including a long one to Sammie Coates, but also had nine tackles and a pass broken up. That performance just served to confirm that Collins is a strong safety for the NFL.

Despite some slight differences in the scouting reports one thing is for sure: Landon Collins is a NFL-ready prospect.

If Collins falls into the Colts’ lap I don’t see how they can pass on him. But that’s a big “if”. There’s a handful of teams in need of a player like Collins that will pick before Indianapolis, such as the Philadelphia Eagles, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Baltimore Ravens and (possibly) the Denver Broncos.

Unless the Colts are willing to trade up a few spots it’s unlikely to see him fall to #29 but the fit would be great, to say the least.

COMBINE RESULTS (per NFL.com)

40-yd dash: 4.53 sec

Vertical jump: 35.0 inch

Broad jump: 120.0 inch

3-cone drill: 7.38 sec