Jerry Jones has done it again. He just threw $1.65 million guaranteed over three years at an undrafted rookie offensive lineman ... when his Cowboys already have arguably the NFL's best offensive line.
Some see landing La'el Collins as a luxury move, and more see it as Dallas taking yet another risk. Bottom line: It's a brilliant and necessary move, with the Jones' keeping their best asset in mind: quarterback Tony Romo.
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Jerry's son Stephen, the team's executive vice president, has said the Cowboys hope to have Romo starting four or five more years. Collins is just another prop to keep their Super Bowl window open for that long.
Dallas is set with left tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick and right guard Zack Martin, elite recent first-round picks. A level or two down from that trio is 31-year-old right tackle Doug Free, who got his own three-year deal earlier this offseason.
That leaves left guard, at which Ronald Leary was a major weakness last season. Leary held his own when run blocking between Smith and Frederick, but he was terrible in pass protection. Pro Football Focus ranked Leary 56th (among qualifying guards) in overall pass block rating.
Evidence could be found in last year's wild-card playoff game against the Lions, when Leary was manhandled by Ndamukong Suh. The Cowboys don't want Romo be in the face of that fire in 2015 and beyond, and Collins was a golden opportunity knocking.
Collins was terrific as a pass protector at LSU — it's the reason (before the late, off-field twist) he was considered a surefire first-round pick. Dallas presents an ideal situation for Collins. Flanked by Smith, he'll have less pressure to deliver inside. And by the time the three years are up, Collins should be in line to take over for an aging Free (and get the big, second contract that goes with it).
For now, as a bonus, Collins also is Free's immediate backup, as the team lost Jeremy Parnell to free agency. Free missed five games with a foot injury last season.
Given the Cowboys' current offensive situation — downgrading from DeMarco Murray to the oft-injured, inconsistent Darren McFadden at running back — more of the offensive burden will again rest on Romo. He's loaded with receivers and is coming off the best season of his career, but he's also 35.
He can't move around the way he once did, and this team still likes to push the ball downfield to Dez Bryant and others. Romo led the league with 8.52 yards per pass attempt in 2014.
The Bills and Dolphins tried their best to recruit Collins, but he and the Cowboys were a perfect fit money and opportunity-wise. Romo should be just as thrilled about it.
