Bengals News (3/21): La’el Collins ready to be Joe Burrow’s new bodyguard

The Bengals have a new enforcer in town to make sure Joe Burrow is safer on game day in the pocket.

Joe Burrow Gets His Man and Charismatic Collins Sets Tone In Massive Bengals O-Line Renovation
When the Cincinnati Bengals’ biggest prize of the offseason walked through the Paul Brown Stadium front door late Sunday afternoon to sign his three-year contract, head coach Zac Taylor knew exactly what he saw as La’el Collins stretched out his hand for greetings all around.

Bengals Sign La’el Collins
Collins, a seventh-year pro out of Louisiana State University, originally was a college free agent signee of the Dallas Cowboys in 2015. He spent his first six seasons (2015-21) with the Cowboys and played in 74 career games (71 starts), seeing action at both G and OT. He was released by the Cowboys on March 17.

Bengals sign former Cowboys OT La’el Collins to three-year deal
The Bengals are finalizing an agreement with the former Cowboys offensive tackle, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport reported Sunday. The team later confirmed it’s a three-year deal.

Bengals are landing La’el Collins
The Bengals and tackle La’el Collins are “finishing up” a deal, per a source with knowledge of the situation. Cincinnati was aggressive and remained persistent, getting an agreement finalized before other teams could lure Collins to town.

Bengals Notebook: A Super Lure; Carman In Mix At LG; Balls And Strikes
Hayden Hurst, the Bengals’ new starting tight end, pictured himself playing in such an offense on such a stage as he watched his future teammates come within 39 seconds of winning Super Bowl LVI last month.

3 players Cincinnati Bengals were wise to pass on in 2022 free agency
While the Bengals signing any of these free players we’re about to discuss would have been cool, for one reason or another, it’s probably for the best that they didn’t bring any of these guys to Cincinnati.

Former Dallas Cowboys lineman La’el Collins agrees to three-year contract with Cincinnati Bengals
The text message that flashed across La’el Collins’ phone on Sunday was the question Cincinnati Bengals fans kept asking throughout the weekend. And it was from the most prominent person in the city. “Deal done?” Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow asked Collins, the inquiry posed with multiple questions marks. Collins had a simple answer.

Cincinnati Bengals OT La’el Collins to Joe Burrow: ‘Your New Bodyguard is in Town’
The 28-year-old joins Alex Cappa and Ted Karras as the newest members of the offensive line. The Bengals knew they needed to upgrade the position after Joe Burrow was sacked 70 times in 20 games last season. The new trio should help Burrow stay upright.

NFL free agency: Bengals target CB Stephon Gilmore in free agency?
While the world waits to see if the Cincinnati Bengals actually land a big offensive line upgrade with offensive tackle La’el Collins, the team will also keep tabs on the rest of the free-agent market.

Around the league

Browns announce trade for Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson
The Cleveland Browns announced Sunday that they traded for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, giving up three first-round picks, a 2023 third-round pick and a 2024 fourth-round pick for the QB and a 2024 fifth-rounder.

Rashaad Penny returns to Seahawks on one-year deal worth up to $6.5M
The Seattle Seahawks have agreed to terms with running back Rashaad Penny on a one-year deal to return to the team, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday, per sources. Penny, 26, will make $5.75 million on the contract with a chance to earn up to $6.5 million, Rapoport added.

JuJu Smith-Schuster doesn’t mind Chiefs’ crowded WR corps: ‘I made the decision to come here to win’
JuJu Smith-Schuster battled back from what appeared to be a season-ending shoulder injury last year to return in time for the postseason. The receiver’s Pittsburgh Steelers were quickly dispatched, however, by the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Chargers signing TE Gerald Everett to two-year, $12 million deal
Everett joins a formidable receiving corps fronted by Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, with major contributions from running back Austin Ekeler. In 2021, veteran TE Jared Cook caught 48 passes in this pass-happy offense. Everett produced the same total in his first year with the Seahawks, whose passing attack was notably weaker.

Cleveland Browns’ trade for Deshaun Watson underscores cold, hard reality
Deshaun Watson has hovered like a ghost over the NFL for more than a year, ever-present but almost entirely unseen and unheard. With a January 2021 trade demand shortly followed by scores of sexual misconduct allegations stemming from massage therapy sessions, one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks abruptly entered a bizarre, unsettling exile.