The Dallas Cowboys have told veteran offensive tackle La’el Collins that he will be released, according to a league source. Collins drew interest as a potential trade target from the Miami Dolphins and other NFL teams, per sources, but no trade could be worked out.
Cowboys to cut La’el Collins, Terence Steele to be his replacement
The Cowboys like Terence Steele as the replacement for Collins, which is why they have moved on from their former starting right tackle.
Collins served a five-game suspension last season for a violation of the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. The punishment was triggered by a missed test. Collins started 10 games in 2021 and is due a $10 million base salary in 2022.
He is due $10 million base salaries in 2023 and 2024 that are not guaranteed.
A former Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner and undrafted free agent from LSU, Collins restructured his five-year, $50 million contract last year. He signed with the Cowboys in 2015 as an undrafted free agent due to concerns about a pending legal matter at the time of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Before that legal matter came to the forefront, many expected Collins to be drafted in the first round. He has started 71 of 74 career NFL games and is a former All-SEC selection.