NFL Free Agency 2014: Anthony Collins has interest from Washington Redskins
Cincinnati Bengals tackle Anthony Collins (73) against the Baltimore Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium. Bengals defeated the Ravens 34-17. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Although Jared Veldheer, Eugene Monroe, and Branden Albert are bigger names at left tackle and will get paid elite tackle money this offseason, Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Anthony Collins is a top player in his own right. He isn’t as good as those three, but he’s pretty darn close and could be the best signing of the offseason. Even though the Washington Redskins have an elite LT in Trent Williams and received surprisingly great play from veteran Tyler Polumbus last season, the Washington Post’s Mike Jones reports that the Redskins have interest in Collins.
I’m sure the Bengals will do whatever they can to re-sign Collins, and hopefully they will be able to keep him around, thus allowing Andrew Whitworth to wreck people as a guard. But if Collins gains enough momentum during the legal tampering period, then the Bengals simply won’t be able to afford him.
I highly doubt the Redskins end up signing the 28-year-old Kansas product, because Collins is a tackle who will want to play on the left side. Well, he wants to be paid like a left tackle, and the whole “left tackle” stigma exists. More importantly, the Redskins have bigger fish to fry than ones at tackle, especially with Williams locked in on the left side. The Redskins need to focus on rebuilding the defense first, and I don’t think they have the money to compete for a tackle of Collins’s quality. But if his market is drier than expected, then the Redskins are a sleeper team to watch.