The San Francisco 49ers have made a move to bolster their interior defensive front, acquiring defensive tackle Maliek Collins from the Houston Texans, sources from the league have confirmed. In exchange for Collins, the Texans will receive a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. This trade comes as defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw has agreed to terms with the New York Jets and veteran Arik Armstead is reportedly being released by the 49ers.
Collins, who will turn 29 in April, has been a consistent starter for the Texans over the past few seasons. He recorded five sacks in 16 games last season while playing for Houston. Prior to his time with the Texans, Collins started his career as a third-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2016. He spent four seasons with the Cowboys before playing for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 and eventually joining the Texans for the past three seasons. Throughout his eight-year career, Collins has accumulated 25 sacks, 206 total tackles, and six fumble recoveries.
With the probable departure of Armstead, the 49ers needed to find a new starter at the defensive tackle position. Collins seems to be a suitable replacement, having started 46 games for the Texans over the past three seasons and registering 11 sacks during that period. While Collins may not be as impactful as Armstead, who led the 49ers’ defensive line and recorded 58 quarterback pressures in the previous season, he brings a younger age (28 compared to Armstead’s 30), potential cost savings, and familiarity with a similar defensive system following playing under it with the Texans.
The addition of Collins further strengthens the 49ers’ defensive line, which already features standout players such as Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd at defensive end. With Collins and Javon Hargrave expected to start at defensive tackle, the 49ers’ pass rush should receive a significant boost compared to the previous season. Floyd has consistently recorded at least nine sacks in each of the last four seasons, providing the 49ers with a steady presence opposite Bosa.
In terms of financial implications, the 49ers are set to take on Collins’ $8 million base salary, with $6 million guaranteed. He also has the potential to earn up to $500,000 in per-game roster bonus money. This move aligns with the 49ers’ goal of becoming more cost-efficient at the defensive tackle position, as the expected cap hit of $8.47 million from Collins is in the range of the pay cut the team wanted Armstead to take from his existing $17.4 million salary. The 49ers have also recently added defensive tackle Jordan Elliott, previously from the Cleveland Browns, suggesting that Collins is likely to assume Armstead’s former starting role while Elliott takes over Javon Kinlaw’s rotational position.
This trade presents an interesting shift in the 49ers’ defensive strategy and lineup. While Collins may not match Armstead’s previous productivity, his acquisition provides the team with a potentially solid starter at defensive tackle, complementing their strong defensive ends. The 49ers have focused on improving their pass rush, and this move signifies their commitment to building a formidable defensive front.
