The Cowboys added another long term cog to their highly praised offensive line in right tackle La’El Collins. This is a special moment for Collins as he finally receives a substantial pay day after dropping off draft boards in 2015. He was wrongly accused of being involved in a murder, and his stock took a major hit for these false accusations. The Cowboys took a chance on Collins, and are now doing right by their man who has been all class on and off the field. This article will breakdown the move, and also grade the transaction.

The Deal:
La’e Collins, Right Tackle: 5 years 50 million with 35 million guareenteed

Reaction, Analysis, and Grade:
Collins was set to hit unrestricted free agency, and was not mentioned in any contract discussions with Dallas recently. This deal came out of nowhere, and surprised many as most of the focus has been on negotiations with star running back Ezekiel Elliott. This deal will make Collins one of the top five highest paid right tackles in the NFL today. At first glance, this may seem like an overpay for a player without any pro bowl apperances. However, this is actually a money saving move as this deal allows the Cowboys to reduce Collins cap hit for this year. This extension created 5.7 million in cap room for 2019 that can be used to re-sign Ezekiel Elliott according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. (Schefter, 2019) You could make the argument that this is a bargain for an above average right tackle who will only be making ten million annually each year. Collins is a solid pass blocker, but really excels in the run blocking scheme. This is vital for Dallas who likes to play a run first pass second style. It also secures their offensive line for the foreseeable future with four of their offensive line spots set up on long term contracts. This will only enhance Elliott’s willingness to stay with the team as he will now have a dependable line to run behind for years to come. I am happy that Collins finally gets the pay day he deserves after some wrong legal issues were thrown his way. He would have been a first round pick with guaranteed money if not for the false rumors that hurt his draft stock. The Cowboys have made a commitment to bolstering their offensive line, and made another move to make sure this plan stays in tact. Collins has steadily improved each year, and had a solid season last year under the guidance of offensive line coach Marc Colombo. This deal is going to be a bargain because typically teams have to overpay in order to sign offensive lineman in free agency. It is always a position of need, and in this case the Cowboys have saved themselves from having to break the bank in the future. This is a win win for both sides as Collins gets his big payday, and shows his loyalty to Dallas by taking a team friendly contract. The Cowboys have done a nice job of locking up their young talent long term, and Collins is no different at only age 26. You would expect him to only get better as the years go by, and as long as he stays healthy expect him to be force for the offensive for the future.

Grade: B+

Photo Credit: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/cowboys-reportedly-sign-lael-collins-to-long-term-deal-its-impact-on-ezekiel-elliott-talks/

Source Credit: https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1168890551321735175