Dallas Cowboys to extend La’el Collins, less pie for others?

The Dallas Cowboys continue to sign players to contract extensions beyond the top names fans have been eagerly anticipating. This time it’s La’el Collins.

The Dallas Cowboys are signing players to contract extensions. But they continue to do so with those not named Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, or Ezekiel Elliott.

Both Prescott and Cooper are in the final year of their respective contracts, and currently with the team preparing to play the New York Giants on Sunday in Week One of the regular season. Elliott, on the other hand, has two years left on his rookie deal and is in the midst of a holdout that could result in him missing the regular-season opener and possibly even more games.

All three are considered pivotal pieces to the Cowboys’ future. And while negotiations with the big three loom, Dallas’ front office continues to secure extensions with others, eating up more of their salary cap or pie as owner and general manager Jerry Jones calls it.

Just two weeks ago, the Cowboys announced that they had agreed to a five-year, $64 million extension with fourth-year linebacker Jaylon Smith, securing his services through 2023. And on Tuesday, another name was granted an extension that isn’t Dak, Amari, or Zeke. It’s La’el!

Entering his fifth season with the Cowboys, starting right tackle La’el Collins was scheduled to be a free agent next year. And there was speculation that the team was preparing to move on from Collins and grooming 2018 second-rounder Connor Williams to take his place. That theory seemed to be verified when Dallas used their 2019 third-round selection on Penn State offensive lineman Connor McGovern, who would presumably replace Williams at left guard at some point.

But that speculation can now end as the Cowboys announced they have agreed to sign Collins to a five-year extension, keeping the 26-year old on the team through 2024. That means Dallas’ top offensive linemen in left tackle Tyron Smith, center Travis Frederick, and right guard Zack Martin along with Collins are all under contract through the 2023 season.

Although the financial details of Collins’ new deal have not yet been released, there are concerns about how this latest move will impact the pending extensions for Prescott, Elliott, and Cooper in Dallas.

Update: According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Collins’ deal is worth $50 million in new money, with the first two years fully guaranteed and $35 million in total guarantees.

According to OverTheCap.com, the Cowboys current salary cap space is an approximate $14.5 million. Yet, that number tells us nothing as how these contracts are structured is what really tells the tale. And without knowing those exact figures, it’s near impossible to know how much of the pie is really left.

But according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, Collins’ extension will actually open up salary cap space this year …

There is an overwhelming confidence that the Dallas Cowboys can manipulate the salary cap in order to sign anyone and everyone they want. Obviously, that would likely come at the expense of placing the team in a terrible financial situation in the future. As for Collins’ extension, it ensures the Cowboys’ offensive line will be able to keep their all-important chemistry intact for the foreseeable future. Although, one has to question what the team’s plans are now for high-draft picks Connor Williams and Connor McGovern.