The 49ers find their nose tackle of the future with Alfred Collins
The San Francisco 49ers have made their second-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Jed York hinted at this pick being in the trenches, so the guessing games began. There was one offensive lineman selected and one defensive lineman selected. And the defensive tackle, T.J. Sanders, was the only player I felt would not be a fit for the Niners.
With the 43rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the 49ers took Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Alfred Collins, fulfilling their need on the interior and getting Kyle Shanahan a player from his alma mater.
Collins played in 64 games at Texas. However, he didn’t start until 2024. He recorded 55 tackles, seven passes defended, six tackles for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble in his fifth and final college season. Over his career, he amassed 141 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and seven sacks.
He actually has a former cousin who was a Niner: Trent Brown. He is a nose tackle, but not your typical one. Collins, a fifth-year senior, has the physical makeup you want. Collins has an 85-inch wingspan, which was second-longest among draftable defensive tackles. Collins is 6’5, 5/8, 332 pounds, with 34 5/8” arm length. Each of those are in the 90th percentile or better.
Physical Profile:
- Height: 6’5”
- Weight: 318 pounds
- 40-yard dash: 5.09 seconds
- 10-yard split: 1.74 seconds
- Vertical jump: 30 inches
- Broad jump: 9’2”
- Bench press: 22 reps at 225 lbs
- Arm length: 34 inches
- Hand size: 10 inches
Collins spent 24 percent of his snaps at Texas this past season as a nose tackle. His strength is being a force against the run, as you’d imagine by his size. He wins with length and a first step, and, like Mykel Williams, has upside as a pass rusher thanks to his frame.