Cincinnati’s effort to re-make their offensive line isn’t finished yet. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the team is “finalizing an agreement” with tackle La’el Collins (Twitter link). Jeff Howe and Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic report that the contract is a three-year deal.
Collins was scheduled for another free agent visit elsewhere, Garafolo notes, but the Bengals are getting him signed before he could leave their building. The former Cowboy is set to become the third starting-caliber addition to their offensive line, as Cincinnati has already brought in Ted Karras and Alex Cappa.
The 28-year-old was released by Dallas last week, as they undergo some noteworthy changes to their own o-line. Not long after learning he would need to find a new NFL home for the first time in his six-year career, Collins met with the Bengals. While they didn’t immediately come to a new deal – leaving the Dolphins potentially in the mix to add him – they seem to have done so now.
A former UDFA, Collins began his time in Dallas as a guard, but is most well-known as the team’s starting right tackle. He saw steady improvement during his time as a Cowboy, earning higher PFF grades with each passing season. In 2021, he continued that trend by registering a mark of 82, despite having not played the previous campaign.
With Collins in the fold, the Bengals have continued to bolster the unit charged with protecting quarterback Joe Burrow. After ranking among the worst teams in terms of sacks allowed – and seeing each of Burrow’s two seasons in the league end with serious knee injuries – the Bengals made it clear they were going to be aggressive in pursuing upgrades. That has certainly been the case so far.
Collins will likely man his familiar right tackle spot, creating a bookend with former first-rounder Jonah Williams. Those two, along with Karras and Cappa, should represent a marked improvement in what was seen as the teams’ weakest position group. The news could send 2020 sixth round pick Hakeem Adeniji inside to guard, or leave him as depth at the RT spot.
Nice gonna enjoy seeing Joe rip apart the browns with a better line
This is your reminder that joe has never beat the browns in his career
First time for everything
Till this year … remember Joe didn’t play in the game that didn’t matter last year .. yes I’m a Bengals fan , but not a Browns hater. Let’s all just agree To boo Steelers :)… so to say he has “never beaten” you’re right but that’s what 2 or 3 games in his short career … one thing is for sure … this division will be interesting … for at least 3 teams …
This is your reminder that the browns haven’t won the division since 1989. Longest stretch in nfl history.
Would you only enjoy seeing Burrow “rip apart the Browns” or would you enjoy seeing him succeed against other teams, too, such as Kansas City, Buffalo, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh? Very odd that you singled out the team that finished last in the division last year.
We all just want our guy to win. Doesn’t really matter I wouldn’t think. I’m a Bengals fan and I’ll admit , I enjoy a division win more than “any” win. Anytime we beat Ravens or Steelers it’s a great day. I kind of like Cleveland somewhat so not as much … I do think moving on from Baker was needed. Hopefully his next contract has no commercials in it ..
Baltimore finished last.
Freaking right
Well these guys are definitely an improvement for the offensive line. Then again, one could argue that signing 3 mannequins would also have been an improvement.
That’s what I’ve been saying. No pro bowlers on the line and 3 new starters are going to take time to gel.
A mannequin beats a hologram.
Hahaha
Adeniji was a guard for the bulk of the stretch through the playoffs. Isaiah Prince was the primary RT after Reiff went down.
No big loss for cowboys hasn’t been worth a darn last 2 seasons because of injury and suspension.
Hopefully he stays on the field in Cincy .. very talented … I would challenge you to go back and look at the running back production in games he played. Running game was much more efficient
He played 10 this season and had over an 80 PFF grade. I’d say it’s a good chance that he had his year to work out the rehabbing and getting use to the hip and playing together and getting things in line as a offensive lineman. Exactly like Burrow and his knee this season. You could tell at the beginning of the year he was a little sceptical about his knee. But as the season went on he got use to everything and his knee was better and better each game that went by. At the end of the season he most definitely had a lot more stability on his knee and felt very comfortable with it as if he didn’t have the injury in the first place. So give Collins time to see if he worked out all his kinks and stays as one of the best right tackles in the league. At least I hope and pray everything ends up that way. Burrow definitely can’t keep taking all the sacks that he did this past season (21′ season). He took waaaayyy too many damn sacks and it’s pitiful that the line was that freakin bad, sooooooo damn bad it was pathetic. We’ll see how the 22′ season goes. Hopefully sooo much better that they go back to the Super Bowl and win the Lombardi trophy to show everyone that the Bengals are here to stay period. No longer a laughing episode of a joke for a team, this is a great team that just upgraded one of the worst offensive lines in the league. WHO DEY
Great fit. Now they can spend their first round pick on a lineman, but don’t need to. Just how free agency should work.
The Bengals nevertheless should look to add depth to the line, whether it be in the first round or second or thereafter. Needless to say, but Joe Burrow’s health should be the Bengals’ primary concern and while these are nice signings for them, injuries do happen. It would be a shame if Burrow’s health is an unfortunate domino to fall if an injury occurs on the offensive line. I’m a Browns fan, but I never like to see injuries occur, even to our opponents.
Burrows will be protected better for sure & he’s going to be very motivated to get back to the big game. However, Buffalo & KC are better, Denver & the Raiders are better too. AFC is the best since the 70’s.
By “better” you mean improved I hope? To say they are generally better , I don’t think is accurate. They could be , time will tell.
Better-
1.
of a more excellent or effective type or quality
Improved-
having become or been made better
What you talking bout willis?
Chargers seem to have improved a lot, too.
Jonah WillIiams Alex Cappa Ted Karas Hakeem Adeniji La’el Collins
Pretty decent o line, not only will Joe not get sacked as often but he should have more time to scan the field and deliver a better ball. Joe Mixon will also have better blocking and should pick up yards easier.
They still own their first second and third round picks and there should be good talent in positions they need available.
Daxton Hill could be the second safety off the board for them at 31. He would be a solid addition. If not They could upgrade at corner with Andrew Booth Jr or Kaiir Elam.
In the second round, they could grab the best TE available probably Jalen Wyndermyer. He projects to be a good blocker and an amazing receiver.
Then in the third, I don’t think it would be a bad idea to get a clear an obvious RB2 in the form of James Cook.
I agree on most points except safety. Huge Bengal fan but not a Mixon fan. Plays around in the backfield too much. I think 1st round should look hard at corner … but at least now they are not tied to O-line
Yeah I see them taking a DB, Booth Jr, Hill or Elam would be the best available.
I just lent towards safety cause of Jessie Bates being on the franchise tag and Vonn Bells deal also expiring after this year. But either way CB or S would be my first pick for them.
As for Mixon I think you’ll find that he will have a great season. He’s never really played with a good line helping block in front of him. He’s never really had a good QB giving him good ball off the catch either.
I think a lot of people will be looking at burrow expecting big things after the SB and with this née line but Joe will be the one having a great regular season
You say “play around in the backfield.”
I say “constantly avoid immediate penetration into the backfield.”
As much as these o-line upgrades are going to help #9, the benefit to Mixon is almost as big.
Unless he misses 3+ games with injuries, he’ll break the franchise season rushing record. Count on it.
(Rudi Johnson ‘05 – 1458 yards)
I agree with your advice, but I would like to see Cincy select another corner before RB2, personally. A big play RB2 could make that offense really incredible to defend (especially since it just addressed its biggest need), but I think their secondary play slipped a few times at inopportune moments and is relying on veterans to maintain their form for production. Getting a few young corners developing already would certainly be a big plus. Perine, though not a big play threat primarily, is a decent spell and short yardage back (even considering his final play of the season last year) that at least gives the Bengals cushion in terms of depth.
I agree with you about nabbing a TE. It’s the most obvious hole in terms of starters that Cincy has now. That line I would say is better than decent, at least on paper. It looks pretty good.
No pro bowlers. They are an improvement but it will take time to gel. Most good lines are anchored by a pro bowler.
Stop repeating that
No pro bowlers and the line will take time to gel.
That big play RB2 may already be in the building.
I like Chris Evans and Pooka Williams a lot.
Necessary, expected, and a good move. Kudos to Cincy.
Tua or Burrow is a pretty easy decision.
Good luck Cincy. I don’t care what the numbers say I watched every Cowboys game and Collins was horrible last season.
‘Horrible’ might actually be an upgrade for Cincy’s offensive line.
I did too. I wouldn’t say horrible but Steele stole his job outright. Collins didn’t play well, that’s for sure.
He allowed 2 sacks in 485 opportunities … that’s not horrible. Do you’re homework. Ranked very high as an OT
Watch the tape.
Great talent, but the Cowboys released him for a reason. They were tired of his act, and you have to really mess up to be talented and still released.
I hope he gets his head on straight.