The Dallas Cowboys managed to nab yet another first-round talent for their already impressive offensive line group when they added La'el Collins as a free agent after the 2015 NFL Draft.
Collins, widely viewed as a top-32 selection in late April, fell off draft boards due to unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances involving the death of an ex-girlfriend.
Collins ultimately had the matter cleared up and was able to sign with the Cowboys, meaning the vaunted Dallas offensive line had another mammoth piece to integrate.
Collins, participating in Cowboys OTAs this week, has been getting the majority of his reps thus far at right tackle.
"It's definitely a new position for me, so a new challenge," Collins said, via Charean Williams of The Forth Worth Star-Telegram. "I have to go out each and every day and focus on the small things - my technique, my assignments. It's been a great two days for the OTAs."
While veteran Doug Free is expected to man the outside spot bookending Pro Bowler Tyron Smith this season and Collins was presumed to be a top candidate for the right guard spot, Free's absence due to offseason ankle surgery could open the door for the talented youngster to make a name for himself at a position of greater importance.
"We think he has the physical ability to play a couple of different spots," coach Jason Garrett said. "He was a tackle for most of his career in college but did play guard. We see him as a guy who can maybe do both of those things as he goes. The big thing for him is to try to get him acclimated as quickly as we can. So right now he's going to play right tackle for us. He and Darrion Weems are competing at that spot in Doug Free's absence, and we'll just see how that unfolds. All those guys, having some position flex and some versatility on the offensive line is really, really important. He's someone who's demonstrated that in college and has the physical traits to do it at this level."
While Collins will likely wind up at guard, his future is almost assuredly at tackle - it seems that future could be coming sooner than expected.
