49ers Strengthen Defensive Line with Acquisition of Maliek Collins from Texans

In a strategic move, San Francisco trades a 2024 seventh-round pick for the defensive tackle, signaling major changes to their defense.

The San Francisco 49ers have traded a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Houston Texans for defensive tackle Maliek Collins.
Collins, 28, is set to join the 49ers' defensive line, which has seen significant changes, including the addition of defensive tackle Jordan Elliott and edge rushers Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos.
The 49ers are expected to release defensive tackle Arik Armstead, who declined a salary reduction, making room for Collins.
Collins matched his career-high with five sacks last season and ranked 12th among defensive tackles in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric.
The Texans will take a $10 million dead cap hit for the trade, reflecting a signing bonus paid to Collins when he got an extension last year.