The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive line in 2024 has struggled to adequately protect quarterback Baker Mayfield and support one of the league’s least effective rushing attacks.
In their 3-2 start to the season, the Buccaneers have allowed at least one sack on Mayfield in each game, including a concerning seven sacks during a home loss to the Denver Broncos on September 22 and five sacks in a road victory over the Detroit Lions on September 15.
A major factor contributing to this inconsistency is the absence of right tackle Luke Goedeke, who has been sidelined since suffering a concussion in the season opener against the Washington Commanders on September 8.
Goedeke, now in his third season, is crucial to the Buccaneers’ offensive line after starting all 17 games in 2023. He was drafted by Tampa Bay in the second round (57th overall) out of Central Michigan in 2022.
Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder suggests that Tampa Bay should consider signing veteran offensive tackle and free agent La’el Collins to help stabilize their offensive line as they approach the middle of the season.
“Starting right tackle Luke Goedeke hasn’t played since suffering a concussion in the season opener, and the Bucs have dealt with inconsistent guard play,” Holder wrote. “If these issues persist, adding Collins could be a smart move, given his experience at both right tackle and guard.”
While Collins has proven himself as a strong player in the past, his recent inactivity—he hasn’t played since starting 15 games for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022—raises questions about whether he’s the right fit for the Buccaneers.
La’el Collins’ Background and Draft History
Collins was initially projected as a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft after his impressive college career at LSU. However, his draft status plummeted after he was linked to the murder investigation of his ex-girlfriend, Brittany Mills, who was killed just days before the draft. Although Collins was eventually cleared as a suspect and was not the father of Mills’ child, he went undrafted and later signed with the Dallas Cowboys. The case remains unsolved.
Collins made an impact as a rookie starter and played consistently, earning a five-year, $50 million contract extension with the Cowboys in 2019. However, his career faced setbacks in 2020 due to injuries, and he was suspended in 2021 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
Stint with the Bengals and Injury Troubles
After leaving the Cowboys in 2021, Collins joined the Bengals with a three-year, $21 million deal and started 15 games before suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 16. His injury led to his release by the Bengals in 2023. He later signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2024 but was cut from the team during the final roster cuts in training camp.
With a history of both on-field success and off-field challenges, it remains uncertain whether Collins would be the solution to the Buccaneers’ offensive line struggles.
