Read rapid reactions on the Giants moving up in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft to select All-American safety Landon Collins of the University of Alabama with the 33rd overall pick.
Mike Mayock, NFL.com
"Collins runs a sub-4.5 40. He plays every game with his best effort. He is the best in-the-box safety in this draft. If you're a defensive back for (Alabama coach) Nick Saban, you're well coached. Collins finishes in the run game and he finishes in the pass game."
"Widely viewed as this draft's top safety – in a weak class – before being passed over in Round 1, Collins was arguably the best player on the board heading into Friday. The Giants have a major hole at the position after losing Antrel Rolle and Stevie Brown in free agency and opting so far not to re-sign Quintin Demps. Collins is an ideal box safety with decent cover skills who might also assume a linebacker role in sub packages."
Todd McShay, ESPN
"He's an excellent run defender as an in-the-box safety who is built like a weakside outside linebacker - and some teams think that might be his best position. He'll have trouble in coverage if he has to match up one-on-one against slot receivers with regularity, but he's athletic enough to cover most running backs and tight ends."
"They had to get a safety, but he is a box safety. In a division with teams that want to run the ball, it makes sense as he is someone who can play in space."
"Well, obviously they needed a safety. And until about a week ago, Collins was widely viewed as the best safety in this draft. (Arizona State's Damarious Randall was the only safety taken in the first round
Photos of every selections from Day 2 of the NFL Draft
- New York Giants (trade): Safety Landon Collins
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OT Donovan Smith
- Oakland Raiders: DE Mario Edwards Jr.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: RB T.J. Yeldon
- New York Jets: WR Devin Smith
- Washington Redskins: LB Preston Smith
- Chicago Bears: DT Eddie Goldman
- Tennessee Titans (trade): WR Dorial Green-Beckham
- Carolina Panthers (trade): WR Devin Funchess
- Atlanta Falcons: CB Jalen Collins
- Houston Texans: Benardrick McKinney
- New Orleans Saints: LB Hau'oli Kikaha
13. Minnesota Vikings: LB Eric Kendricks
- San Francisco 49ers: CB Jaquiski Tartt
- Philadelphia Eagles (trade): CB Eric Rowe
- San Diego Chargers: LB Denzel Perryman
- Kansas City: OL Mitch Morse
- Buffalo Bills: CB Ronald Darby
- Cleveland Browns (trade): LB Nate Orchard
- Miami Dolphins (trade): DT Jordan Phillips
- Cincinnati Bengals: OL Jake Fisher
- Detroit Lions: RB Ameer Abdullah
- Baltimore Ravens (trade): TE Maxx Williams
- Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Senquez Golson
- St. Louis Rams (trade): OL Robert Havenstein
- Arizona Cardinals (trade): DL Markus Golden
- Denver Broncos: OL Ty Sambrailo
- Dallas Cowboys: LB Randy Gregory
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (trade): OL Ali Marpet
- Green Bay Packers: CB Quinten Rollins
- Seattle Seahawks: DE Frank Clark
- New England Patriots: Safety Jordan Richards
Rd. 3: 1. Indianapolis Colts: CB D'Joun Smith
Rd. 3: 2. Tennessee Titans: OL Jeremiah Poutasi
Rd. 3: 3. Jacksonville Jaguars: OL A.J. Cann
Rd. 3: 4. Oakland Raiders: TE Clive Walford
Rd. 3: 5. Seattle Seahawks: WR Tyler Lockett
Rd. 3: 6. Houston Texans: WR Jaelen Strong
Rd. 3: 7. Chicago Bears: Center Hroniss Grasu
Rd. 3: 8. St. Louis Rams: OT Jamon Brown
Rd. 3: 9. Atlanta Falcons: RB Tevin Coleman
Rd. 3: 10. New York Giants: DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa
Rd. 3: 11. New Orleans Saints: QB Garrett Grayson
Rd. 3: 12. Kansas City Chiefs (trade): WR Chris Conley
Rd. 3: 13. Cleveland Browns: RB Duke Johnson
Rd. 3: 14. New Orleans Saints: CB P.J. Williams
Rd. 3: 15. San Francisco 49ers: LB Eli Harold
Rd. 3: 16. Detroit Lions: DB Alex Carter
Rd. 3: 17. Buffalo Bills: OG John Miller
Rd. 3: 18. New York Jets: LB Lorenzo Mauldin
Rd. 3: 19. San Diego Chargers: CB Craig Mager
Rd. 3: 20. Philadelphia Eagles: LB Jordan Hicks
Rd. 3: 21. Cincinnati Bengals: TE Tyler Kroft
Rd. 3: 22. Arizona Cardinals: RB David Johnson
Rd. 3: 23. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Sammie Coates
Rd. 3: 24. Minnesota Vikings: DE Danielle Hunter
Rd. 3: 25. St. Louis Rams: QB Sean Mannion
Rd. 3: 26. Baltimore Ravens: DT Carl Davis
Rd. 3: 27. Dallas Cowboys: OT Chaz Green
Rd. 3: 28. Denver Broncos: TE Jeff Heuerman
Rd. 3: 29. Indianapolis Colts: DE Henry Anderson
Rd. 3: 30. Green Bay Packers: WR Ty Montgomery
Rd. 3: 31. Washington Redskins: RB Matt Jones
Rd. 3: 32. Cleveland Browns: DT Xavier Cooper
Rd. 3: 33. New England Patriots: DE Geneo Grissom
Rd. 3: 34. Kansas City Chiefs: CB Steven Nelson
Rd. 3: 35. Cincinnati Bengals: LB Paul Dawson
Thursday night.) So the Giants make a big move to trade up from No. 40 to No. 33 and select Collins to help bolster a position of significant need. The Giants gave up the No. 4o pick (a second-rounder), the No. 108 pick (their fourth-rounder) and the No. 245 pick (the extra seventh-rounder they got from the Broncos in last year's Brandon McManus trade). It feels like a lot to give up, and it doesn't really solve their need at free safety, as Collins projects to be a box safety exclusively. But he likely immediately becomes the best safety on their roster, and their roster isn't quite as tattered as it was a year ago, so giving up the fourth-rounder isn't likely to hurt them too much. I guess I like it."
"The Titans traded their 33rd overall pick to the Giants, who gave up the 40th overall pick, as well as a fourth- and seventh-round pick. And with that 33rd selection, Big Blue selected Alabama safety Landon Collins. Collins isn't an elite cover safety (he's serviceable in that regard) but he's a true downhill thumper. With Antrel Rolle, Stevie Brown and Quintin Demps all leaving via free agency, the need at this position was glaring, and Collins is a very safe strong safety selection."
"Much more range than he gets credit for. Don't just paint him as strictly a box safety, although that's what his strength is. He can roam a little bit more in the mid-field range, you can play him a little bit deeper at times, he gives you that flexibility, and now you get an extremely motivated young man."
"Love the Giants pick. Collins has been dinged for his coverage skills, but he is much better in coverage than some have projected."
Read rapid reactions on the Giants drafting UCLE DE Owamagbe Odighizuwa.
"He is a specimen. He can set the edge. He plays hard from snap to whistle. Odighizuwa has had some injuries in his past, which might be why he's slid in this draft."
Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com
"The Giants love to pick pass rushers, and this kid can rush the passer. So there´s some value. But he does have some medical issues."
"Should be able to step in and help against the run almost immediately. Projects as either a 4–3 DE or 3–4 OLB; that versatility will help him. Career sack numbers
oversell his actual abilities as a pass-rusher."
"Not really a surprise considering coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has resumed control of the defense and loves to have athleticism and depth throughout the line."
"He is an extremely competitive and relentless player who is excellent against the run and versatile enough to play multiple roles in multiple defensive fronts. He's not a great pass-rusher at this point but has the upside to develop into one with his upper-body power, violent hands and closing burst."
