Bengals sign Collins to 3-year deal worth reported $30M
The Cincinnati Bengals keep adding to their offensive line.
Cincinnati has signed former Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle La'el Collins to a three-year deal, the team announced Sunday.
The pact is worth $30 million, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The deal will act like a two-year contract worth up to $22 million, as the third year was added to help spread out Collins' cap charge, adds Schefter.
Collins made 71 starts for the Cowboys since joining as an undrafted rookie in 2015. The LSU product, who missed the entire 2020 season due to a hip injury, was suspended for five games in 2021 for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
Dallas cut Collins on Thursday after failing to find a trade partner, saving $10 million in cap space.
The New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, and Denver Broncos also pursued him in free agency, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
"I just believe there's good fits and there's perfect fits. And I just felt like this was a perfect fit from the jump," Collins said Sunday, according to Ben Baby of ESPN.
Collins has been a consistent presence on the Cowboys' offensive line in recent years and has also stood out due to his versatility. He played the entire 2021 campaign at right tackle but also has experience at guard.
The 28-year-old allowed 17 pressures and two sacks in 454 pass-block snaps played last year, according to PFF.
Improving the offensive line became a priority for the Bengals after quarterback Joe Burrow was sacked a league-high 51 times during the regular season. Burrow was also sacked a playoff single-game high nine times in the divisional round, and the Los Angeles Rams took him down seven times in Super Bowl LVI.
The Bengals already signed guards Alex Cappa and Ted Karras this offseason.
#Bengals new offensive line:
- Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) March 20, 2022
LT Jonah Williams
LG Jackson Carman/D'Ante Smith/Rookie/Other
C Ted Karras
RG Alex Cappa
RT La'el Collins.
Plus, depth of last year's draft picks developing and flexibility to go BPA at the top of this year's draft.
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