The Dallas Cowboys are having “active trade conversations” surrounding right tackle La’el Collins, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. With Terrance Steele … stealing the right tackle spot from Collins for portions of 2021, this shouldn’t surprise Cowboys fans. With Dallas’ disappointing cap situation, it was easy to assume this could be a move they make to alleviate some of their issues.
La’el Collins’ best landing spots
Collins is still a very good player when on the field. However, availability has been a concern over the past two seasons for the veteran right tackle. He missed the entire 2020 season with a hip injury he suffered after coming to training camp out of shape.
Then, he served a five-game suspension in 2021 for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Steele struggled at right tackle in 2020 during Collins’ absence, but he fared much better in relief of the LSU product in 2021.
Collins is a well-paid right tackle, but he lost favor with the coaching staff for his inability to stay on the field. After all, the Cowboys already have issues keeping left tackle Tyron Smith healthy. Still, there should be no shortage of teams looking to acquire Collins via trade.
Miami Dolphins
Pro Football Network’s NFL Director Adam Beasley said the Dolphins ran a full-court press on Collins during his tumultuous time at LSU. With Mike McDaniel coming to South Beach, few right tackles would be a better fit.
Collins is an elite run-blocking right tackle. He is an absolute mauler but with the athleticism to hit landmarks in space. He is also a high-caliber pass protector when healthy. He allowed just 4 sacks in over 1,100 pass-blocking snaps over 2019 and 2021.
Cincinnati Bengals
If the Bengals are serious about trying to keep Joe Burrow alive for the duration of his NFL career, a trade for Collins makes all the sense in the world. He’d be a massive upgrade over Riley Reiff, who the Bengals experimented with before his injury in 2021.
Isaiah Prince isn’t the answer, either. Making a trade for Collins alleviates one need on the offensive line. And because this is a good interior offensive line class, the Bengals could address both spots before Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers fit takes a bit of imagination, but hear me out. Cutting 33-year-old Brian Bulaga creates $11 million in salary cap space. He didn’t play at all in 2021, and Storm Norton can go back to being comfortable on the bench.
The Chargers already addressed Justin Herbert’s blindside. This move would essentially erase any exterior pressure problems Herbert may face. That allows him to use his athleticism to escape interior pressure from the right side, as that would become the only possible sore spot.
Additionally, Collins’ road-grader ability would help open up the Chargers’ rushing attack on the right side, something they struggled doing in 2021.