I don't know what reasons the Cowboys might have for wanted to get rid of him so badly that they would just release him for no compensation but this has come up suddenly, not after the season, but just before free agency. I had not heard any complaints about Collins the way we heard about complaints about Cooper. There must be something they know that has not been made public. I also think he has trade value so it is surprising no one has come forward with a reasonable offer.
No matter what anyone may feel, this is a business transaction. So the Cowboys should not do anything rash. Trading him now will get them some compensation but frees only $1.3 million in CAP money. Given the player Collins is, $1.3 million is not enough of a save to cut him for financial reasons. So trading him for less than he is worth would be dumb. Of course they can designate him a June 1 cut and save $10 million this year, but that money is not freed until June 1. By then free agency and the draft are over and rosters are pretty much set. CAP room is less of an issue at that time.
Rather than designating him a June 1 cut, and getting nothing for him, why not keep him and trade him after June 1? As we get closer to the season his trade value will increase. An injury to a RT on another team will increase the demand for Collins. Collins is a very capable RT and he will have value to another team suffering an injury to a tackle.
If there is no other unknown issue forcing the Cowboys' hand, I would not get rid of him. I don't trust Steele just yet and I am concerned without Collins the Cowboys don't have a backup plan for when Tyron Smith gets hurt again. Further, we have no idea if the Cowboys will find a LG in the draft, and if not, then there is still the possibility that Collins moves to LG - although maybe the Cowboys asked him to move and he declined. Maybe that is why they are trying to trade him. But still, I would let him compete with Steele and if he loses that battle then let him seek a trade to the Cowboys satisfaction. I understand the Cowboys not wanted to pay a backup RT $15 million against the CAP.
But just releasing him would be a bad business decision. It would be like owning a stock and burning your shares instead of selling them because you own another stock that is performing better.