The Sports Xchange

NFL teams are still trying to figure out what to do about La’el Collins.

The LSU offensive lineman, one of the top remaining prospects in the NFL draft, is scheduled to talk to police on Monday regarding a murder case in Baton Rouge, La., and his attorney has communicated his situation to security directors of all 32 NFL teams with the hope that they will not remove him from their draft boards, according to reports by NFL Media on Friday.

Police have said Collins is not a suspect in the shooting death of a pregnant woman believed to be his former girlfriend, but NFL teams have been leery of drafting the senior lineman, who originally was considered a possible first-round pick.

Teams hoped to have reports from their security teams before the second round began Friday, NFL Media reported.

A Pro Football Talk poll of a handful of team executives Friday indicated that Collins wouldn’t be drafted based on the lack of information about the murder case. But New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton told Pro Football Talk that he thinks Collins will be drafted in the second or third round.

The NFL on Thursday denied a request by Collins to be removed from draft consideration and allowed to enter the supplemental draft in the summer.

Collins was at an NFL event in Chicago on Wednesday morning but returned to Baton Rouge in the hope of speaking with authorities and clearing his name.

Because the investigation was not complete, however, the police were not ready to meet with him, NFL Media reported. Police instead agreed to schedule an interview with Collins after the draft.

Officials are trying to get more information about the death of 29-year-old Brittney Mills, who was shot and killed a week ago in Baton Rouge. She was found in her apartment and rushed to the hospital, where her infant was delivered. The child survived and remains under medical care.

Police believe Mills is the former girlfriend of Collins and are trying to determine who killed her and whether Collins is the father of the baby.

“He’s not a suspect, but we are seeking to question him,” Cpl. Don Coppola of the Baton Rogue Police Department told NFL Media on Tuesday. “He knew the victim. We’re not sure of the exact nature of the relationship. But for the investigation and through the investigation, we’re exhausting all avenues to locate this young lady’s killer.”

Collins’ attorney, Jim Boren, said Tuesday that he provided information to the police and has hired a private investigator.

“We have identified where La’el was the day the lady was murdered to establish he was nowhere around,” Boren told ESPN. “We have offered to give names, witnesses who can vouch for his whereabouts that day until after the woman’s body was discovered. We believe that when (police) have verified that information they will rule him out as a suspect in the homicide, just as I believe he should be.”