La'el Collins reportedly agrees to five-year contract extension with Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys have been busy in advance of the 2019 season, with ongoing contract discussions involving Ezekiel Elliott and a newly-inked, long-term deal with star linebacker Jaylon Smith. On Tuesday, word broke that Dallas came together on an extension with a key piece but, instead of Elliott ending his holdout, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the team rewarded standout offensive tackle La'el Collins with a five-year extension. 

While details are sparse aside from the revelation that signing Collins actually created salary cap space, ESPN's reporting indicates that Collins will become "one of the NFL's five highest-paid right tackles" and that is a significant benchmark. The 26-year-old has been operating as a linchpin for the Cowboys in recent years, starting the past 32 games as the team's right tackle. 

"Obviously I think this is been one of the best things that happened to me going in," Collins told ESPN this week when asked about landing in Dallas back in 2015. "For me, it prolonged my career in a way of the coaching I've been able to get since I've been here, coming in working with Coach Frank [Pollack] the way he helped me develop as a player, the way Coach [Marc] Colombo helped me develop as a player. Just learning some things from those guys, learning things from veteran guys when I got here has really helped me. I wouldn't trade it for the world. So I'm excited to be where I am in my career right now going into Year 5, Year 3 at right tackle. I'm just ready to go out there and show what kind of player I am this year and what kind of unit we are as a group."  

While Collins won't rise to the level of national prominence reached by Elliott, Dak Prescott or Amari Cooper, he is an established force and the Cowboys are treating him as such. This contract won't move the needle in betting markets, simply because Collins was already projected to be involved for 2019, but Dallas secures a long-term commitment and Collins reaps the financial benefit of the organization's confidence.