The New England Patriots are reportedly considering adding one of the few remaining impact players left in NFL free agency to help bolster their offensive line for the rest of the 2023 season.
Although the New England Patriots suffered a frustrating loss in Week 1, the team still hung in there with one of the league’s best, the Philadelphia Eagles. And after a horrible performance in 2022, the new-look offense showed some real positive signs by posting 20 points against one of the better defensive units in the league.
However, while the group led by young quarterback Mac Jones is headed in the right direction, there a still some weaknesses in the unit. One of the most notable is at right tackle where fifth-year man Calvin Anderson is starting after RT1 Riley Reiff was placed on injured reserve and will miss at least the first four games of the season.
New England Patriots targeting La’el Collins in NFL free agency
In an attempt to address that issue in the short term and improve the O-line’s overall depth, Mark Daniels of Mass Live reported on Wednesday that the Pats are taking a hard look at recently released former Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys lineman La’el Collins.
Collins was cut earlier this week and nearly 10 months after suffering a torn ACL and MCL against, oddly enough, New England late last season. His absence in the playoffs had a major effect on the Bengals in 2022 and is part of why they shelled out big money to former Kansas City Chiefs star Orlando Brown Jr. in the offseason.
The New England Patriots free agent target entered the league in 2015 with the Cowboys after a strong career at LSU. He has proven to be a very versatile player during his NFL career, starting at left guard before switching to right tackle in 2017. In 2017, Collins was a part of a Dallas line that allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL that year.