After signing a cheap prove-it deal with the Buffalo Bills, one report indicates that the team could cut offensive tackle La’el Collins before the start of the 2023 season. After going undrafted in the 20215 NFL Draft, Collins quickly established himself as one of the league’s better offensive tackles, recording an impressive 82.0 PFF grade as recently as 2021. However, the tackle struggled in 2022 before suffering season-ending ACL and MCL tears late in the year. The LSU product sat out the 2023 season while recovering from said injury and had to sign a one-year, $1.75 million deal with Buffalo.
Unfortunately for La’el Collins, recent reports indicate that his cost-effective contract might not be enough to save him from being a roster cut. According to Ryan O’Halloran of the Buffalo News, fellow tackle Ryan Van Demark is currently ahead of him on the depth chart. If starting right tackle Spencer Brown is ready to go following offseason shoulder surgery, Collins might not make the team.
This could be a kiss of death for his career. The NFL unofficially stands for “Not For Long”, and La’el Collins might not get another opportunity if the Bills cut him. However, if any teams are willing to make a low-risk, medium-reward investment in a crucial position, it could be the Carolina Panthers or New Orleans Saints.
Saints, Panthers Could Puruse La’el Collins If Cut
The Carolina Panthers need Bryce Young to turn into a franchise quarterback. After surrounding him with the worst supporting cast in football as a rookie, the team spent the offseason trying to make life easier for the former first-overall pick. Carolina bolstered the offensive line with Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis, traded for Diontae Johnson, and selected wide receiver Xavier Legette in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. These players will help, but the Panthers could use more security at the left tackle position.
2022 first-round pick Ikem Ekwonu is still something of an unknown commodity. After a promising rookie season, the former top-10 pick failed to improve during his second year in the league. Young was one of the worst quarterbacks in the league against pressure last year and won’t survive if Ekwonu continues to regress. If cut, La’el Collins could be an adequate swing tackle and emergency starter for a team that doesn’t have the cap space to go out and spend big on the position.
Saving Derek Carr
Derek Carr can’t elevate a flawed roster to a championship, but he can succeed in the right environment. Unfortunately, the New Orleans Saints have serious concerns along the offensive line that could sink their whole season. On paper, the starting tackle duo of Ryan Ramczyk and first-round pick Taliese Fuaga can provide adequate support for Carr. However, Ramczyk is coming off a career-threatening injury and Fuaga is an untested rookie at a position that comes with a steep learning curve. Assuming the Bills cut him, La’el Collins could be the ideal insurance policy in case one or both of these players struggle in 2024.
Even if both tackles thrive in 2024, La’el Collins could still make the cut as an interior lineman. The Saints have arguably the worst guard duo in football, which is bad news when your quarterback is a pocket passer like Derek Carr. Collins played guard early in his career and might have to move inside if he wants to keep earning an NFL paycheck. New Orleans could provide him a chance to start and reset his market as a guard.
Main Photo: Kareem Elgazzar – USA Today Sports
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