This week, the Dallas Cowboys realized they needed additional depth. Therefore, they brought in an old friend to work out to see if he’s still got it.
One day later, the Cowboys officially made a signing. The team announced the addition of La’el Collins.
According to Cowboys writer Tommy Yarrish, the deal is “expected” to be completed by Saturday. The Cowboys will have to make a final decision on a corresponding roster move in order to make room for the 32-year-old lineman.
Collins is a former LSU product. He attended the school from 2011 to 2014. When he entered the 2015 NFL Draft, Collins’ draft stock was taking a hit due to non-football reasons.
Despite being widely viewed as a first-round talent, Collins ended up going undrafted. There were some suggestions that he could sit out if he was drafted late. Despite that, the Cowboys struck a deal to bring in Collins as an undrafted free agent.
It was a gamble that surely paid off for Dallas. Collins would play six seasons with the Cowboys. In 2019, he earned a five-year deal, which was worth a reported $50 million. Although Collins was expected to be on the roster up until the previous season, he was released much earlier.
In 2022, Collins was a trade candidate out of Dallas. Within the same month the Cowboys opened the phones for his services, the offensive lineman ended up getting released with three more seasons left on his deal.
Shortly after, Collins signed a three-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. Right away, he started dealing with a back injury, which lingered throughout his first season on the Bengals. Late in the year, he suffered a torn ACL. Collins wouldn’t play in the following season, as he was set to continue rehabbing. Eventually, the Bengals waived him.
The Cowboys brought Collins onto the practice squad in January 2024. At the end of the season, Collins was set to become a free agent once again. Although the Buffalo Bills tried him out last year, Collins didn’t make the final cuts. He sat out for the entire 2024 NFL season.
This summer, Collins will get another chance with the Cowboys. The familiarity within the organization should help, especially with Dak Prescott still in the building, but nothing is guaranteed. For the time being, Collins has a lot to prove with multiple players nursing setbacks.
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