La'el Collins Signs 3-Year Bengals Contract After Cowboys Release

The veteran offensive tackle signed a three-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Financial terms were not immediately known.

A deal was being finalized, according to Mike Garafolo.

Collins made sure to let Joe Burrow know that he was ready to get to work after the deal was done.

The Dallas Cowboys saved $10 million by releasing Collins in March. He was shopped on the trade market by the Cowboys before they cut him.

Collins is one of the better right tackles when he is healthy. According to Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus, he earned 70.0-plus PFF pass-blocking grades in three straight seasons.

Collins is fifth among all right tackles in PFF grade since the beginning of the year, playing 1,743 snaps.

Staying on the field has been a problem. Hip surgery and a violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy led to a five-game suspension last season.

The Cowboys have had one of the top offensive lines in recent years, and a healthy Collins was always a huge factor in that success. Cincinnati swooped in to get Collins because he was a logical target for an upgrade at right tackle.

Signing Collins was always a good idea because the Cincinnati team inquired about him in trade talks before he was released.

The offensive line has been improved by the addition of Ted Karras and Alex Cappa, as well as the signing of Joe Burrow. A weakness last season has become a strength.