Former Cowboys player Lyle Collins could be on the chopping block after his current team, the Bengals, replaced him earlier this season.
One of the biggest offensive signings of the latest offseason may already be looking for a new team in 2023: Former Dallas Cowboys player Lyle Collins has suddenly found himself in a vulnerable position.
Collins signed with the Cincinnati Bengals last year as part of the team’s radical effort to overhaul their offensive line and was at the time heralded as a terrific free agent acquisition. After six years of solidifying the O-line in Dallas, Collins joined Sensei as the most experienced right tackle in the franchise and a valued member of Joe Borough’s bodyguard unit.
One year later, Collins turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments in the trenches who tore his ACL at a critical moment late in the regular season. To make his situation worse, he now has an even more intense competition for a starting offensive line role after the Bengals signed former Chiefs’ flagship tackle Orlando Brown.
Brown would unmistakably slide to left tackle, switching Jonah Williams to right side (assuming Williams doesn’t force a trade) to compete against Collins for the starting right tackle. All of this is forcing the Bengals to seriously consider releasing Collins and allocating additional money to expand their cornerstone franchise lots.
Former Cowboys frontman Lyle Collins may find himself swimming in free agency again
According to ESPN’s Ben Baby, the Bengals would only eat $3.3 million in dead money and save $6 million on cap if they cut Collins before June 1.
It made more sense for Sensei to move on from injury-prone dealing after last season, and after signing Orlando Brown, it made even more sense for the Bengals and Collins to part ways in 2023.
Of course Sensei wants as much depth as possible in the O-line unit, which is one of their weakest spots in recent history; However, at Collins’ price point and given the expensive stars the Bengals have to stretch in the future (Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins), the team may not be able to justify Collins’ huge deal and health concerns.
Cincy also added a full wild card into the mix and just signed former Buffalo Bills tackle Cody Ford, telling Ford he’d get a fair chance to take over right tackle duties with Collins still on ACL rehab and Williams ponders a trade.
Expect some tough decisions for the Bengals front office in the months ahead.
