Reports: Former Cowboys OT La'el Collins signing with Bills

Former Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman La’el Collins has a new team. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz and other NFL insiders, Collins is signing with the Buffalo Bills. He comes to Buffalo after starting 86 games in seven seasons with the Cowboys and Bills.

Collins signed with the Cowboys practice squad on Jan. 2. He didn’t see any action with the Cowboys and his contract expired once the season ended. Before the 2023 season, Collins was with the Bengals and placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. He was released from the team on Sept. 12.

Bills signed veteran OT La’El Collins to a 1-year deal, per his agent Peter Schaffer. pic.twitter.com/DXiq4fLtKc

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 4, 2024

In March of 2022, Collins signed a three-year contract with the Bengals. He started in 15 games before suffering an ACL and MCL injury that ended his season.

Collins originally signed with the Cowboys in May of 2015 as an undrafted free agent. He was slated to be a first-round pick, but his draft stock plummeted when it was announced that he was scheduled to talk to Louisiana State police days after the draft about the shooting death of a pregnant woman with whom he previously had a relationship, despite not being a suspect in the crime.

More on La’el Collins’ career

Collins ended up playing six years with the Cowboys and made 74 starts during that span. When Collins returned to Dallas earlier this year, he was excited to help the team win again.

“It’s amazing,” he said at the time, per the Cowboys’ official website. “Feels great. I could never have even dreamed of it. I’m super excited and looking forward to this opportunity to just be a great leader and whatever they need me to be here.”

Dak Prescott was happy to see Collins back with the Cowboys. “He’s always been a friend,” he said. “He’s been a brother. Excited for him to be back. I know how much he wants this. I know how much he’s going to offer this team. It’s exciting. I know he’s going to do his job at the highest level and he’s not going to let anybody mess with me, so I’m always a fan of that.”

Collins was a standout offensive lineman at LSU. Along with being selected to the All-SEC First Team in 2014, Collins was named a second-team All-American and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy. He will now look to help a Bills team that just lost wide receiver Stefon Diggs via trade to the Houston Texans.