La’el Collins Bills Contract Details Look Like Backup O-Lineman Numbers

Buffalo Bills sign Collins to reasonable contract with upside if Collins out perfroms

Jan 16, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle La'el Collins (71) in action / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The Bills have signed veteran offensive lineman La'el Collins to a one-year deal with a cap hit of $1,580,000.

We now have more details about those contract terms thanks to Over The Cap. https://overthecap.com/player/lael-collins/4105

This is simply a one year deal for $1.58 mllion, with $1.21 million guaranteed and a $290,000 signing bonus. There are up to $5M in incentives that will only apply to the 2025 salary cap (not the 2024 cap) if Collins achieves specific starts, snap counts & games played milestones.

The incentives are set to protect both the Bills and Collins. Should he overachieve and push into a starting role, Collins has security that he will be paid like a starting lineman. But if his role remains as a backup, the BIlls have added experienced depth and insurance to their offensive line.

The 6-foot-4, 315-pound lineman played his college ball at LSU from 2011-2014 where he was a First-team All-SEC and Second-team All-American in 2014.

Oct 5, 2013; Starkville, MS, USA; LSU Tigers offensive tackle La'el Collins (70) / Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Collins was not drafted after his LSU career. He signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2015 as an undrafted free agent. He made 86 starts during his Cowboys career, primarily at the right tackle spot. Collins signed with the Bengals in 2022 and started in 15 games, but missed the 2023 season with ACL and MCL knee injuries and was placed on the reserve-physically unable to perform list. The Cowboys re-signed Collins as a reserve on their practice squad prior to the start of the 2023 playoffs, but did not appear in their NFC Wild Card game.

Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle La'el Collins (71) walks for the locker room / Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY

Brandon Beane seems to be achieving his goal of bringing in reasonably priced experience and veteran depth to the Bills.