49ers pre-draft visit tracker: Team met with LSU OL La'el Collins on Friday, per Tony Pauline

The San Francisco 49ers were apparently on hand at LSU's Pro Day Friday, and they took some time to meet with offensive lineman La'el Collins. Tony Pauline is reporting Collins also met with the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints.

Collins spent the last two seasons at LSU playing left tackle, including 25 starts. He started 13 games at left guard during his sophomore season, and played in seven games with no starts as a freshman. Although he has excelled as LSU's left tackle, indications are that he might not be quite athletic enough to handle the left tackle role in the NFL. However, all indications are that he could plug in at guard fairly quickly. Several scouting reports described him as someone who could be an absolute monster in the run game.

If the 49ers elected to draft a potential guard in the first round, it does provide some options come roster cuts in August. If Brandon Thomas is looking sharp and ready to take over at left guard, the team could just slot in a guy like Collins as the backup guard. Joe Looney has been a decent replacement option, but I'm not sure I see the team signing him to an extension. If he does not claim the starting job ahead of Brandon Thomas, does he wait until Alex Boone potentially departs and hope there is a chance then? If the team drafts a guard, that would not bode well for Looney's future. So maybe they release him and let a guy like Collins learn behind Thomas and Boone. I don't know how likely this is, but it is one possibility.

Height: 6'4
Weight: 305 pounds
Arm length: 33 1/4"
40-yard dash: 5.12
10-yard split: 1.87
Bench: 21
Vertical: 27
Broad: 9'0"
Shuttle: 4.63
3-cone: 7.70

La'el Collins scouting report

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