La'el

Collins

According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, Collins can earn up to $6.25 million on this deal. The veteran lineman has started in 86 games over his seven-year career, but didn’t take a regular season snap in 2023 after recovering from a torn ACL in Week 16 of the 2022 season. Collins earned a PFF pass blocking grade 44.2 in his last season of action, where he started every game at right tackle for the Bengals. Collins spent his rookie season at left guard, and should provide the Bills with plenty of versatility if he can get back to his old form.

Collins worked out for the Cowboys earlier this week. There were reportedly other teams interested in his services, but a reunion with Dallas was always the most likely outcome. Collins played for Dallas from 2015 to 2021. He then joined the Bengals. Things didn’t work out in Cincinnati and he was released in September. Collins will get back up to playing speed while on the Cowboys’ practice squad. The team can call him up to the gameday roster whenever they deem fit.

Rapoport said Collins, who played for Dallas from 2015 to 2021, could be signed to the team’s practice squad if his workout goes well. Collins, 30, who last played for the Bengals in 2022, would then work his way to the game day roster as the Cowboys approach the postseason. He tore his MCL and ACL late last season but has reportedly recovered from the injuries.

Collins was with the Bengals before getting released in September. He was nursing a torn ACL and MCL in the offseason, but passed a physical and has garnered suitors since being let go. Collins visited the Jets on Tuesday and will visit the Giants on Wednesday. The New York teams could use a boost from the former star tackle.

Collins was let go by the Bengals after spending all of training camp on the active/PUP list. The 30-year-old lineman suffered a torn ACL and MCL late last season, and was unable to get on the field until just recently. Collins has already drawn interest from the Patriots, but could find other suitors in the coming days now that he’s passed a physical. Collins started 15 games at right tackle for the Bengals last season, earning a PFF grade of 57.9 while allowing 34 pressures and five sacks.

Daniels reports that, according to a league source, the Patriots have shown interest in Collins but that interest is considered due diligence at this point. New England does have a need at offensive tackle after left tackle Trent Brown missed practice on Wednesday and starting right tackle Riley Reiff was placed on the injured reserve to start the season.

Once thought of as a future star lineman, Collins is hitting the free agent market after being released from the Bengals’ PUP list. Collins tore his ACL and MCL in Week 16 of the 2022 season. Still only 30-years old, Collins will look to catch on with another team in need of help at the tackle position.

No surprises here as each player is working their way back from torn ACL injuries suffered during the 2022 season. Also added to the PUP list for the Bengals was OT Devin Cochran.

“I’m not the guy that makes the ultimate decision ... feel like if I had to play today, I could put a brace on it and I could go to work,” Collins said. He tore the ACL on Christmas Eve and will likely start camp on the PUP list, at the very least. The fact that the Bengals made him available would seem to insinuate they believe he’ll be on the team next season, which is news considering he was thought of as “prime candidate” for a salary-cap motivated release in March. The Bengals are trying to work with transitioning Jonah Williams -- who requested a trade earlier in the offseason -- to right tackle. From the outside, it seems like something has to give at this position.

The Bengals continue to revamp their offensive line for star quarterback Joe Burrow. In his brief five-year career, Brown has blocked for the likes of Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, and will now anchor the left side of the Bengals’ offensive line for the foreseeable future. After starting every game of his career at left tackle, fifth-year vet Jonah Williams will likely slide over to right tackle in the final year of his deal, while La’el Collins likely turns into a trade candidate or cap casualty. The Bengals can release Collins pre-June 1 and save $6.05 million in cap. Brown’s $31 million signing bonus makes for a rather front-loaded contract, as he’ll earn roughly $16 million in annual base salary.