NFL: LSU's Collins goes unpicked in draft
Police want to talk to him about a shooting death. He is not a suspect.
LSU's La'el Collins, an offensive lineman regarded as a probable first-round pick, was not selected in the NFL draft.
Collins is scheduled to meet with Baton Rouge, La., police in connection with the shooting death of a 29-year-old pregnant woman, Brittany Mills. He is not a suspect in the case and had a previous relationship with Mills. NFL Media reported that Collins will meet with authorities after the draft.
Collins' representatives had told teams that the lineman would refuse to sign with a club that drafted him outside the third round and that Collins would simply re-enter the draft in 2016. However, that is not an option, according to NFL rules, NFL.com reported Saturday.
Teams were wary of drafting Collins until they knew more information. The opinion across the league has been to wait until the investigation runs its course.
Theoretically, Collins will be available to sign as an undrafted free agent if he is cleared legally. However, the amount that a team could pay him would be heavily limited by NFL rules governing undrafted free agents.
Louisville TE is last pick
The 10th Louisville Cardinal chosen in the NFL draft earned the title "Mr. Irrelevant."
With the 256th - and last - pick of the three-day draft, the Arizona Cardinals chose tight end Gerald Christian.
He will be the guest of honor for a weeklong celebration in Newport Beach, Calif., next month. At the event, Christian will be presented with the Lowsman Trophy, a Heisman parody statue of a fumbling football player.
'Boys stick with defense
Dallas owner and general manager Jerry Jones wasn't bluffing when he said getting a running back wouldn't be a top priority in the draft, even though the Cowboys lost NFL rushing champion DeMarco Murray to the Eagles in free agency.
The Cowboys kept the focus on defense on the final day of the draft Saturday, taking linebackers Damien Wilson of Minnesota and Mark Nzeocha of Wyoming in the fourth and seventh rounds. Defensive end Ryan Russell of Purdue was picked in the fifth.
Five of Dallas' top six choices were on defense, starting with Connecticut cornerback Byron Jones in the first round at No. 27 overall. Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory was chosen late in the second round after the projected first-rounder dropped because of a failed drug test, missing a team meeting and canceling two others.
Marshall joins Jags
The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms with nine undrafted rookies, including former Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall.
Marshall switched positions before the NFL combine, moving from quarterback to cornerback.
The Jaguars also agreed to terms with Marshall's college teammate, running back/kick returner Corey Grant, as well as Miami linebacker Thurston Armbrister, Syracuse defensive tackle Eric Crume, Oregon State tight end Connor Hamlett, Minnesota State guard Chris Reed, Maryland linebacker Matt Robinson, Pittsburgh linebacker Todd Thomas and Kansas State quarterback Jake Waters.
Area signings
Penn State running back Bill Belton (Winslow Township High) signed with the New York Jets. Villanova coach Andy Talley tweeted that Wildcats tight end Ernest Pettway signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.