La'El Collins Dropping Off NFL Draft Boards as Investigation Into Pregnant Woman's Death Lingers

La’El Collins, the offensive lineman from LSU who seemed like a sure bet to be drafted some time in the first round just a few days ago, is now falling off team draft boards. Two days ago, news broke that police were interested in interviewing him (calling him not a suspect) after the murder of a woman who was reported to be an ex-girlfriend, and who was pregnant.

Things move fast, but the initial news–and Collins’ response–has raised plenty of concerns. So much that it appears teams are dropping him off the board until exonerated, and time is of the essence in very real time.

3. Four different teams' execs told me that La'el Collins -- unfairly or not-- is 'undraftable' until he's fully exonerated from incident.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) April 30, 2015

Mayock says after talking to teams, La’el Collins is completely off many boards unless cleared officially.
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) April 30, 2015

Yesterday, Collins reportedly headed back to Chicago, to meet with authorities. However, Baton Rouge police deny that any such contact has occurred, both last night and again this morning. What’s the delay? He and the attorney who is representing him have to do what’s in his interest. If it was just his draft status, then the meeting would have taken place.

This is one where it is understandable that teams are freaked out and dropping him until further news comes. “Innocent until proven guilty” is a legal standard for taking away someone’s liberty, not for determining whether they get millions from a NFL team. I wouldn’t be eager to commit either, when there seem to be conflicting reports on whether he is meeting with authorities, and questions about his relationship to the murder victim.

It’s unprecedented to see this play out in the time-sensitive bubble that is the three days of the NFL draft.

Yeah, probably not tonight, unless things move quickly.