OT - La'el Collins (Signs with Cowboys)

[dafridge72]

The results of a paternity test administered to LSU T/G La'El Collins showed that he is not the father of murder victim Brittney Mills' child.
Collins also passed a polygraph test in connection with the investigation into Mills and her unborn child's murders. Baton Route (LA) police continue to view Collins as a non-suspect. He isn't even seen as a "person of interest."

 

[fatbeard]

Tax will be big since all the teams will offer the same max deal. It could be as large as a 10% difference, so choosing someplace that fits is key.

The tax on his first UDFA contract will be negligible compared to his second deal. If he's smart he'll go where he can start and succeed, taxes be damned, to set himself up for the big second deal.

 

[dafridge72]

Here is a breakdown on what he will or could earn.

http://overthecap.com/what-can-lael-collins-earn-as-an-undrafted-free-agent/

 

[TL1961]

The results of a paternity test administered to LSU T/G La'El Collins showed that he is not the father of murder victim Brittney Mills' child.
Collins also passed a polygraph test in connection with the investigation into Mills and her unborn child's murders. Baton Route (LA) police continue to view Collins as a non-suspect. He isn't even seen as a "person of interest."

For a man who is not a "person of interest" he seems to be getting a lot of interest.

 

[TL1961]

The tax on his first UDFA contract will be negligible compared to his second deal. If he's smart he'll go where he can start and succeed, taxes be damned, to set himself up for the big second deal.

True. A one year deal would be in his best interests.

 

[Colonel_Buendia]

I don't see Collins as a great option at LT. He reminds me somewhat of Brandon Scherff, who I also didn't see as a fit at LT.

Would absolutely love to sign him, though!

personally i think he could play LT in the league. regardless though, you tell him he can so he signs and then figure it out later

 

[fatbeard]

True. A one year deal would be in his best interests.

I don't think he can sign a one year deal. Because he was draft eligible, he has to get the same UDFA contract as any other player, which is a three year deal that can be renogiated after two years. That's why his agent wanted him to go undrafted after it was clear he was going to fall; he gets to his second contract a year sooner than a drafted player who has to wait three years to renogiate.

 

[WindyCity]

I don't think he can sign a one year deal. Because he was draft eligible, he has to get the same UDFA contract as any other player, which is a three year deal that can be renogiated after two years. That's why his agent wanted him to go undrafted after it was clear he was going to fall; he gets to his second contract a year sooner than a drafted player who has to wait three years to renogiate.

You are correct he must sign the standard 3 year UDFA contract.

He is not making this decision based on anything but on field decisions.

Wish the Bears had been better the last couple of seasons, it would make it an easier recruiting of Collins.

 

[Pegger]

The tax on his first UDFA contract will be negligible compared to his second deal. If he's smart he'll go where he can start and succeed, taxes be damned, to set himself up for the big second deal.

I completely disagree. If someone was expecting a multi-million dollar signing bonus and get stuck with a UFDA deal they will try to squeeze out every dollar.

Edit after post


Coveted OL La'el Collins - most coveted undrafted free agent in NFL history I imagine - is making his 1st visit... Dallas Cowboys up first
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) May 7, 2015



...Texas just happens to have a 0% state tax for athletes.

 

[beckdawg]

I completely disagree. If someone was expecting a multi-million dollar signing bonus and get stuck with a UFDA deal they will try to squeeze out every dollar.

White as the #7 pick got $15 mil with $10 mil guaranteed. Bryan Bulaga just got 5 years, $35 million on his second deal. It's far more important for Collins to go some where he can succeed than to squeak out a few more dollars here or there. In fact, you could argue he possibly comes out on top in all this money wise though it is a risk. He'll arguably get his second bite at the apple 2 years in if he plays well and a team wants to re-sign him. If you assume he gets a 5 year deal he might get a third bite at FA still in his prime. Not entirely sure what UDFA's go for but White's deal puts a top 10 pick at roughly $4-5 mil a year and you're tied up for 5 years if you're good. If Collins plays well he's tied up 3 tops and could make $7 mil or more after that. So, worst case you're talking him losing $12-15 mil on his first deal minus let's say like $2 mil as a UDFA for 3 years. In years 4 and 5 he could make $14 mil+ vs $8-10 mil. Plus, he gets to pick where he goes. Is that worth $4-7 mil? Tough to say.

Regardless, I don't think you hold out for a few $100k for the team willing to pay the most if your back end pay is so much more important.

 

[TheDane]

personally i think he could play LT in the league. regardless though, you tell him he can so he signs and then figure it out later

Ah, yes. Just lie to the kid to get him to sign. Then everybody's happy! Except for Collins, and then the Bears when he becomes a distraction. But who caaaaares, right?

 

[didshereallysaythat]

I got a weird question that I am not sure anyone can answer.

What would happen if a star player purposely did not sign up for the draft because he didn't want to go to a bad team. Then after the draft was over, a team held an individual workout and signed him? Would that somehow be against the rules because he manipulated the system. As it is noted though, it is perfectly legal for a team to sign some random dude off the street.

 

[ClydeLee]

I got a weird question that I am not sure anyone can answer.

What would happen if a star player purposely did not sign up for the draft because he didn't want to go to a bad team. Then after the draft was over, a team held an individual workout and signed him? Would that somehow be against the rules because he manipulated the system. As it is noted though, it is perfectly legal for a team to sign some random dude off the street.

Not against the rules I think, but like this case, he'd only be getting a UDFA rookie contract.

 

[bears26]

Does anyone know how much each team has left of their undrafted free agent money of $100,000?

 

[Pegger]

White as the #7 pick got $15 mil with $10 mil guaranteed. Bryan Bulaga just got 5 years, $35 million on his second deal. It's far more important for Collins to go some where he can succeed than to squeak out a few more dollars here or there. In fact, you could argue he possibly comes out on top in all this money wise though it is a risk. He'll arguably get his second bite at the apple 2 years in if he plays well and a team wants to re-sign him. If you assume he gets a 5 year deal he might get a third bite at FA still in his prime. Not entirely sure what UDFA's go for but White's deal puts a top 10 pick at roughly $4-5 mil a year and you're tied up for 5 years if you're good. If Collins plays well he's tied up 3 tops and could make $7 mil or more after that. So, worst case you're talking him losing $12-15 mil on his first deal minus let's say like $2 mil as a UDFA for 3 years. In years 4 and 5 he could make $14 mil+ vs $8-10 mil. Plus, he gets to pick where he goes. Is that worth $4-7 mil? Tough to say.

Regardless, I don't think you hold out for a few $100k for the team willing to pay the most if your back end pay is so much more important.

Let's look at in a very practical way. If you were expecting a bonus from work that was like doubling your annual salary how would your spending habits change leading up to getting paid? In advance tou might buy some clothes. Probably went to dinner at a few nice places to pre-celebrate. You might have a new car or even home somewhat picked out. You might have talked to a few family members in need and said that you would like to help them.

That's like an NFL prospect but X100. That suit he would have worn to the draft probably was $3000-5000. I'm betting he bought some jewlery and might have already got a car based on what he was going to make. Now that the $3-5M signing bonus is gone he's got to budget tightly for the next 2 years until he can get an early extension on his manditory 3 year UDFA deal. That extra $40-100K per year in tax savings is huge for him.

I get what you are saying in that he'll have a big contract in time, but the truth is that big contract is not guaranteed. He could get an injury and never make it to that deal or there's a chance his skills won't transition to the next level. The only thing that's guaranteed is the deal that he'll end up signing and how much will hit his pocket after tax.

 

[WindyCity]

I got a weird question that I am not sure anyone can answer.

What would happen if a star player purposely did not sign up for the draft because he didn't want to go to a bad team. Then after the draft was over, a team held an individual workout and signed him? Would that somehow be against the rules because he manipulated the system. As it is noted though, it is perfectly legal for a team to sign some random dude off the street.

You are not eligible to sign with a team unless you have entered into the draft.

Once you have gone through the draft you are eligible to sign with whatever team you like.

 

[WindyCity]

In making the argument for why taxes would matter less in Chicago,

1. 3.5% is really not that high, in comparison to California at 13.5%.

2. Collins could make up to 300K in performance based pay if he goes to a team that he will 100% start for. Not starting every game and missing the performance based pay would be a huge mistake.

3. Your off field earning potential in Chicago is probably one of the highest in the NFL. For god sakes the Bears backup QB and S have a car commercial.

 

[fatbeard]

You are not eligible to sign with a team unless you have entered into the draft.

Once you have gone through the draft you are eligible to sign with whatever team you like.

Not true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Håvard_Rugland

 

[WindyCity]

Not true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Håvard_Rugland

Technically he was in the draft.

5 years after graduation he would be in the draft, even if he was not worked out, drafted or even known. Technically when he was 23 any team could have drafted him.


This happens with players from Canada, and is the reason that over age Canadians can sign with teams, because in Canada you get 7 years [5 on the field], but you are in the NFL draft after 4 years on the field no matter what, so some Canadian guys are in the draft without even knowing it.

 

[WindyCity]

But yes a player could sit out the draft like Collins, not get picked and then sign but all teams would have to pass on him.

But teams could pick him if they wanted to, if he is picked and does not sign he would have to re enter the draft the next year like Bo Jackson.

At some point you need to expose yourself to the draft.