If Ja'Marr Chase is streaking down the sideline late in the Super Bowl again, the Cincinnati Bengals seem determined to make sure Joe Burrow has enough protection to hit him and deliver the first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.
Mike Garafolo of NFL Media was the first of a slew to report that the Bengals have an agreement on a contract with free-agent offensive tackle La'el Collins. Garafolo adds that while Collins had another visit scheduled, the Bengals made him an offer that was good enough for him to forego any further courting.
Collins joins the Bengals after spending the first six seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, spending time both as a left guard and right tackle. Despite the 28-year-old grading out as the 15th-best offensive tackle in football this past season by Pro Football Focus, he was released by the Cowboys earlier this month as they attempted to clear salary cap space.
In addition to Collins, the defending AFC Champion Bengals have also signed Alex Cappa and Ted Karras to multi-year contracts this offseason, as Mike Brown and company attempt to keep Burrow upright.
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