Cowboys Releasing Lineman La'El Collins: Report

DALLAS, TX — The Dallas Cowboys are releasing offensive tackle La'El Collins on Thursday.

Collins will likely be designated a post-June 1 cut, which means the Cowboys will save $10 million against the 2022 salary cap, according to ESPN's Todd Archer. If Collins receives the post-June 1 designation, the salary cap room wouldn't be available until June, but the offensive lineman would be able to sign with another team immediately.

Collins had three years remaining on a five-year, $50 million contract he signed before the 2019 season, according to Spotrac. He was given permission to pursue a trade earlier this week, but Dallas made the decision to move on Thursday.

Collins missed the 2020 season after beginning the season on injured reserve with a hip injury and then was tagged with a controversial five-game suspension for a missed drug test in 2021. He filed a lawsuit in Texas arguing the suspension wasn't legal under the rules of the league's collective bargaining agreement, and the NFL even accused Collins of attempting to bribe the drug testing official.

Collins has played in just 12 games the past two seasons and started just 10. He had nine total penalties in 2021.

The move signifies a changing of the guard at right tackle as the Cowboys move forward with Terence Steele, who has started 27 games over the last two seasons since being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech in 2020. He struggled his rookie season after both Collins and starting left tackle Tyron Smith suffered season-ending injuries but showed much improvement in 2021.