La'el Collins Playing Right Tackle in OTAs

When the Dallas Cowboys signed La’el Collins, we had guessed that he’d probably play left guard--a guy who should have been a first round pick playing between two actual first round picks in left tackle Tyron Smith and center Travis Frederick. He still might play that position when it’s said and done, we suppose.

But in OTAs, Collins has been working at right tackle, Doug Free’s position. Free is still working back from offseason ankle surgery, but if Collins shines at right tackle, the Cowboys will have a decision to make. Head coach Jason Garrett said after the signing that the five best of the loaded offensive line group would start. That could put Collins at guard or tackle, and Garrett is confident in his ability to play both.

“We think he has the physical ability to play a couple of different spots,” Garrett said of Collins this week, per the Dallas Morning News. “He was a tackle for most of his career in college but did play guard. We see him as a guy who can maybe do both of those things as he goes. The big thing for him is to try to get him acclimated as quickly as we can. So right now he’s going to play right tackle for us. He and Darrion Weems are competing at that spot in Doug Free’s absence and we’ll just see how that unfolds.

“All those guys, having some position flex and some versatility on the offensive line is really, really important. He’s someone who’s demonstrated that in college and has the physical traits to do it at this level.”