Every summer, the battle for the Giants' final roster spots delivers plenty of heartbreak, but few guys won over fans last year quite like wide receiver Beaux Collins. The 6-foot-3, 206-pound wideout defied the odds as an undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame, riding passing-game potential and special teams versatility to eke out a spot on the 53-man roster.
His sudden release on Friday following a concussion left fans wondering what could have been for the promising young pass-catcher. Fortunately, life moves fast in the NFL, and last year's offseason darling didn't have to wait long for his next opportunity.
Less than a week after agreeing to an injury settlement with Big Blue, Collins officially found a new home. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported that the Atlanta Falcons are signing the second-year receiver, giving the Cinderella story another chance to jump-start his career in the NFC South.
Beaux Collins gets another shot to keep his unlikely NFL story alive
When the Giants targeted Collins as a priority undrafted free agent in 2025, the plan was simple: add size to Big Blue’s receiver room and find a guy willing to do the dirty work on special teams.
His size/speed combo paid off instantly in the preseason. Against the Jets, Collins burned his man down the sideline, pulling in a beautiful 80-yard moon ball from Russell Wilson. Special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial even singled him out to the media, calling him an instinctual, tough kid who just has that natural long speed.
He was locked in a fierce summer roster battle with fellow undrafted rookie receiver/special teams ace Dalen Cambre. Collins ultimately won the fight on cutdown day, earning a spot on the 53-man roster.
He went on to appear in nine games, registering two catches for 25 yards before a neck injury prematurely ended his season. In a twist of football irony, it was Cambre who was called up from the practice squad to fill Collins' roster spot.
History seemed to repeat itself this summer when a concussion landed Collins right back on New York's injured reserve. But instead of keeping him parked on IR for the year, the Giants cut him loose with an injury settlement to clear a roster spot. With his newfound freedom, Collins is taking his talents to ATL to compete for a back-end roster spot.
At just 23, Collins is a classic bottom-of-the-roster flier. He's a guy who will bust his tail on special teams to stay employed while trying to refine his game enough to eventually chip in on offense. It stinks to lose a former fan favorite, but if Collins wants to keep his Cinderella story alive, he’ll have to make the glass slipper fit in Atlanta.
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