It seems like as another day passes in this crazy NFL offseason, the only thing going for the Dallas Cowboys right now is they can say they’re winning in the number of players who are rumored in trade discussions, so I take that as an early win for the Boys.
All jokes aside, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport actually reported yesterday that the Cowboys are having active trade discussions around starting Right Tackle La’el Collins, and there is a heavy interest from teams around the league to acquire the 28-year-old tackle.
The #Cowboys are having active trade conversations centered around starting OT La'el Collins, sources say. A mainstay since 2015, Collins is due $10M this coming year and there is interest from other teams.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2022
Regarded as a top offensive tackle in the league, Collins can fill a void for any team who is looking to upgrade their quarterback’s right side, and I believe the two teams that are most likely to trade for him are the Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Broncos made a huge blockbuster trade to acquire Quarterback Russell Wilson three days ago and can now elevate themselves to contenders with Wilson at the helm, but I could see the offensive line as their biggest weakness if they don’t make any changes.
According to PFF, the Broncos finished with the 19th-best offensive line this season, and their starting Right Tackle Bobby Massie, who Collins would replace, finished with an overall 71.0 grade. That may not seem too bad to some people, but Massie was also a part of a line that gave up the 27th-most sacks in the NFL and Wilson essentially would feel like he was with Seattle once again since there wasn’t a sustainable line for him.
With Collins as their new tackle, the Broncos get someone who was not only graded with an 82.0 PFF grade this season but is also four years younger than Massie.
Shifting to the Bengals, it has to be the NFL’s most-known issue that they need to get Quarterback Joe Burrow some help up-front, and you imagine he’s likely begging the front office to spend big money on the offensive line this free agency.
If Collins were to get shipped out to Cincy, he’s an instant upgrade over the team’s incumbent Right Tackle Riley Reiff, who graded a 67.3 rating this season, and he’s locked up until 2025. Additionally, Collins would become a key player to rebuilding their offensive line and likely be a part of a star-studded offensive line, as the Bengals have been linked to some of the top offensive line free agents and have about $35 million in cap space to create a top-tier line for Burrow.
For any fans wondering what trade compensation could look like for Collins, here are two ideal packages from K.D Drummond at Cowboys Wire.
In his piece, he has the Cowboys receiving the Bengals 3rd-Round Pick (No.96) and a possible 2nd-round pick (No.64) or another 3rd-round pick (No.75) to help sweeten the trade, and the Bengals sending a package that surrounds their 3rd-round pick (No.95) for Collins.
So, what do you think Cowboys Fans? Should the franchise move on from Collins?
