Giants safety Landon Collins made Mel Kiper’s All-Rookie Team while left tackle Ereck Flowers got an honorable mention. Collins also became the first Giants safety to start an entire 16-game season and led the Giants this season with 112 total tackles. Landon ranked third on the team with nine passes defended.
Both Collins and Flowers made Kiper Jr.’s Midseason All-Rookie Team. They became the first tandem of first- and second-round draft choices to start for the Giants in the season opener since wide receiver Ike Hilliard and running back Tiki Barber did so in 1997. That year, the Giants won the division, but lost in one of the most embarrassing moments of all-time, suffering one of the biggest blown leads in franchise history against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wild Card round.
The player some thought the Giants should’ve drafted instead of Ereck Flowers, running back Todd Gurley III, also made Kiper’s All-Rookie Team. The G-Men will get to see how the draft choices stack up when they face the Rams in London.
The expectations were high for Collins coming into the season and got even higher when everyone who lined up with Landon ended up on injured reserve. Some thought drafting Collins would be a mistake, but they were quieted when Collins got off to an impressive start. Quieted, but not silenced. Landon often had a handful of plays that brought the hype and the hope back down to earth.
It seems no one will be able to forget his dropped interception against the Patriots on the final drive in the fourth quarter that led to another late-game loss. But, considering he had about 18 partners line up with him at the safety position and was still able to excel is a sign that Collins is only going to get better. He’s a breakout star and perennial Pro Bowler. If Big Blue can get him a competent and complementary mate opposite him at safety, you’ll see Collins making a lot more end-of-year best lists. JUST HOLD ON TO THE PICK, DUDE!