Breaking down the 90 players on the 49ers’ offseason roster in 90 posts (over 90 or so days). Today is DT Alfred Collins
It shouldn’t have come as a shock that the San Francisco 49ers doubled down on defensive linemen to start the 2025 NFL Draft after letting three starters walk this offseason. Still, Alfred Collins from the University of Texas wasn’t a name that would pop up in mock drafts or top 50 rankings in general.
The former Longhorn will be tasked to fill a Texas-sized hole in the middle of a Niners defense that has parted like the Red Sea against the run in the previous two seasons under Steve Wilks and Nick Sorensen.
After relying on pass-rush first players, the front office is turning back the page to yesteryear, getting back to their roots, and banking on a 332-pound rookie to solve those run defense woes under the tutelage of Robert Saleh.
Basic Info
Age: 23
Experience: Rookie
Height: 6’6
Weight: 332 pounds
Cap Status
Collins has a contract value of $10.3 million. His cap number in 2025 is $840,000. Rookie contracts are pretty straightforward. Agents will likely try to manipulate the guaranteed money their player receives upfront, but other than that, there isn’t much to negotiate.
The second round savior
If the 49ers were confident in Jordan Elliott, Kevin Givens, Evan Anderson, and Kalia Davis to produce like starter-level players, they would have opted for another position. Instead, they selected a 5th-year senior with the frame that’ll make him first in line on the “Get off the bus team.” Collins’s arm length, wingspan, weight, and height are all in the 90th percentile or better.
What do the 49ers need to improve their run defense? An immovable body in the middle would be a massive boost. Collins can use that wingspan to keep himself clean of double teams, win 1-on-1 blocks, but equally as important, keep Fred Warner and his sidekicks behind him free to roam and tackle the ball-carrier.
Too often during the past two seasons, whether it was Javon Hargrave or Maliek Collins, opposing offenses had no issue getting to the second level. The 49ers lost the math game because their defensive tackles either couldn’t hold their ground or would get worn down as the game went along.
This is where Collins can serve as the second-round savior for Saleh’s defense. Javon and Maliek were explosive against the pass, but not on early downs — or at least not consistently enough. One of the first things you notice when watching Collins is his ability to get off the ball and make first contact. Pair that with his length, heavy hands, and we should see substantial gains and early returns.
Another area where Collins excels is finding the ball after using one arm to free himself of the block. He did more two-gapping in college than he’ll ever be asked to do in Saleh’s scheme, which is why it’s easy to be optimistic about his projections as a run defender.
Patience with the pass rush
Statistically, Collins left plenty to be desired as a pass rusher. He had one sack in 2024 with a pressure rate that was only five percent. It’ll take some patience from fans, as Collins learns how to play with the proper pad level and develop a couple of counter moves as a pass rusher.
One reason for optimism, even if it takes Collins some time, is his activity in the tackle column last season. He had 57 tackles, with eight of those taking place in the backfield. That’s impressive activity for a nose tackle. It’s also a sign that Collins is beating blocks.
The good news is that Mykel Williams and Yetur Gross-Matos will be called upon to do the heavy lifting when it’s time for an interior pass rush. That will allow the Niners to bring Collins along slowly, allow him to concentrate on being a dominant run defender, and in turn, keep him fresh for what figures to be a long season.
Anything Collins provides as a pass rusher will be a bonus as a rookie. Push the pocket, get your hands up in the passing lane, and deflect a pass here and there. There are ways for Collins to impact the game as a pass rusher, but he was taken in the second round to make his mark against the run.