Report: Dallas Cowboys entertaining trade offers for offensive mainstay
The Dallas Cowboys still have their eyes set on a Lombardi Trophy, but due to issues with the salary cap with so much talent eating up massive chunks of cash, Jerry and Stephen Jones are going to have to make difficult decisions in order to free up space, while still ensuring their core is in tact for another run in 2022.
On Thursday, NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reported the Dallas brass is entertaining moving on from one of the anchors of the offensive line. Offensive tackle La’el Collins could be headed out of Dallas.
The 28-year-old Collins, who has played his entire career with the Dallas Cowboys, is set to count $15.25 million against the Cowboys’ salary cap this season, but the Cowboys can save $13.95 million of that by cutting or trading him.
Last year Collins played in 12 games, starting 10, but the Cowboys didn’t miss him much when he was out of the lineup, and it’s unsurprising that they’re not sure he’s worth the cap space they’re devoting to him.
The former LSU Tigers product was undrafted in 2015 but has become a staple on the Dallas Cowboys offensive line which has been one of the most dominant position groups year after year. is
“He is one of the most outstanding offensive linemen in the country,” team owner Jerry Jones said recently of Collins.
Dallas Cowboys restructure Dak Prescott, Zack Martin contracts
ust before the beginning of the new league season, the Dallas Cowboys are making a flurry of roster moves. Between franchise tagging Dalton Schultz and resigning Noah Brown to a one-year contract, it’s been a busy Tuesday morning for the Jones family.
More news has come out regarding the contracts of quarterback Dak Prescott and All-Pro guard Zack Martin. Dallas has restructured both of their contracts, saving roughly $22 million for the upcoming season. Both will now be earning more guaranteed money on the remaining parts of the deal.
Prescott takes up a majority of the $22 million, saving the Cowboys $15 million himself. Last offseason, he signed a five-year, $160 million contract and fully committed to being the franchise quarterback. Even after the deal was just signed, Prescott restructured to save the team around $5 million in cap space.
As for Martin, this will be his third consecutive year with a contract restructuring. He will save Dallas $7 million and continue to be a staple on the offensive line. No matter how bad the cap situation got for the Cowboys, getting rid of Martin would never be in the plans.
With the two moves, Dallas is now under the salary cap and will be able to operate in free agency when it opens next week. This will help with the incoming 2022 draft class as well, having seven picks in late April.
Now, the two Cowboys stars will be focusing on having a better ending to the upcoming season. Both are chasing their first ring, spending their entire career in Dallas thus far.