Landon Collins Selected By New York Giants With 33rd Pick

It took a day longer than expected, but Landon Collins is now with an NFL team.

The New York Giants selected Collins, a former Alabama safety, with the 33rd pick of the 2015 NFL Draft Friday.

Collins, who was widely viewed as the top safety in this year’s draft class and was once projected as high as a top-10 pick, waited several hours inside the green room at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre during the first round of the draft Thursday without hearing his name called.

Collins left Chicago after Thursday’s first round to take in the draft from home in his native New Orleans, but he didn’t need to wait long in the second round before his moment finally came.

The Giants traded their 40th, 108th and 245th picks to the Tennessee Titans moments before the start of Day 2 of the NFL Draft to acquire the 33rd pick used to take Collins.

Collins was the second player taken at his position. The Green Bay Packers took Damarious Randall, formerly of Arizona State, with the 30th overall pick Thursday.

As a junior at Alabama last season, Collins was named an All-SEC and unanimous All-American selection, making 103 tackles (4.5 for loss), three interceptions and seven pass breakups. He was also a finalist for the Nagurski Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award.

Currently, the Giants only have two safeties listed on their roster – Cooper Taylor and Nat Berhe. Last year’s safety starters – Antrel Rolle and Stevie Brown – are no longer with the team.

Giants wide receiver and fellow New Orleans native Odell Beckham Jr., who was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year last season, seemed excited about his new teammate.

Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara and defensive end Damontre' Moore were also happy:

Even former Alabama linebacker and current New England Patriot Dont'a Hightower also had a few words for Collins:

Collins' half-brother, former Florida defensive lineman Gerald Willis III: