Cowboys sign La'el Collins to deal
— -- IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys have reached a deal with undrafted free-agent offensive lineman La'el Collins, the team said Thursday.
The Cowboys fully guaranteed the three-year, $1.65 million deal, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
After meeting with Collins on Wednesday night at Jerry Jones' Highland Park home, the Cowboys were able to come to the agreement on Thursday.
Collins was viewed as a first-round pick entering last week's draft, but went undrafted when his name was linked to an investigation into the murder of his pregnant former girlfriend.
Collins was questioned by Baton Rouge, Louisiana, investigators about Brittney Mills' death on April 24 but is not considered a suspect. While not a suspect, he has yet to be fully cleared. Collins was one of the best offensive linemen available in last week's draft, but teams were unwilling to select him because of the uncertainty of his involvement.
A paternity test showed Collins was not the father of Mills' child. He also passed a polygraph test, according to ESPN's Josina Anderson. Mills' child survived the shooting but died a week later after being born in the hospital.
Teams are not allowed to meet with undrafted players at their school or residence, which led to the meeting with the Cowboys in Dallas. Collins also met with Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan, and a number of Collins' former LSU teammates on the Miami Dolphins attempted to recruit him, as well.
It's not clear whether Collins will take part in the rookie minicamp that starts Friday.
While Collins started his final two years at LSU at left tackle, he projects more as a guard in the NFL. He started 13 games at left guard his sophomore year.
Ronald Leary has been the Cowboys' left guard the past two seasons, starting every game in which he has been active.
Already considered one of the best lines -- if not the best line -- in the NFL, the addition of Collins to a group that includes first-rounders Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin, as well as steady right tackle Doug Free, would further solidify the Cowboys' front.
Collins is the third high-profile addition for the Cowboys at less than full price. The Cowboys signed Greg Hardy to a one-year deal in free agency, in part because teams did not want to deal with Hardy's domestic violence issues. He subsequently received a 10-game suspension, which he is appealing. Last week, the Cowboys were able to select Randy Gregory in the second round of the draft. He was pegged as a high first-round pick at the start of the draft process but a failed drug test at the NFL scouting combine and other issues scared teams off.
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