49ers select Alfred Collins-DT-Texas with the 43rd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by bud49:
Maybe they take him out on passing downs and move Williams to the inside and bring in say Huff or another player to play the edge?

I mean I don't think you should be spending a top 43 pick on a DT that you're planning on playing 2 downs.

I know folks were saying the same thing with Williams but imo he's got pass rush ability already and that's from inside or outside. Not sure about Collins, he's more of a work in progress and we need some actual inside pressure now.

I agree. The 49ers were terrible on RPO plays, at least with Collins he hopefully solves that issue. I think Collins' pass rush is under-rated because of the team he was playing for ... I don't expect him to be GOOD as a pass rusher as a rookie, but I expect him to be better than his college tape shows.

Which DT would you have preferred at 43?

Originally posted by Scoots:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by Since07:

Originally posted by glorydayz:

Originally posted by Since07:

Originally posted by GoreGoreGore:

Originally posted by jonnydel:

Originally posted by GoreGoreGore:

Originally posted by jonnydel:
So, like I posted in the Mykel Williams thread - I watched all of Collins's tape at Texas from this past season. Fire away with any questions y'all got. I couldn't post the video I made of it on YT because of some dubious copyright issues.

What seems to be his main weakness? Is he gotta have pad level issues like Kinlaw?

Main weakness is he's a little slow of foot for pass rush and doesn't have a lot of moves. He was the premiere run defending IDL in the draft. Gobs of power at the point, strong awareness, great length to control the engagement. But, he's not gonna jab step and go around many guards. He's a blunt force object.

We can live that. His main role should be a run stuffing DT, and if he develops as a pass rusher, that's just a bonus.

I know DT is one of the hardest positions to learn as a rookie, so hopefully he can at least be a good rotational player next year. Not expecting him to be Ngata his first year, but by year 3 hopefully he can at least be a a great run stuffer at the least.

I don't think this guy will ever be a pass rusher, maybe if he develops a bull rush he can push the pocket back.

How many good inside pass rushers are out there? I think he needs to eat up space so that our highly paid edge rushers can rush the passer.

I don't even think it matters if he starts, I think the IDL can be rotated for situational football. I don't think Collins is in the game on obvious passing downs, but on 3rd & 1 or at the goal line he could be a problem once he knows what he's doing.

Idk if space eater is the right words. He's a wall can't run at him but he's not chasing people down. IDL and run defense was a huge need so I'm okay with it, #43 seems a bit high though. I really wanted Josh Simmons I've seen some videos of him killing it in camp

Wasn't super thrilled with the Collins pick especially that early and this draft being stocked with DTs.

He's got a lot of work to do if he wants to be more than a run stopping DT. Feel like we get the same thing (and more juice as a pass rusher) with West a couple rds later. The upside of Collins is huge, but I feel like he's not very explosive & plays high.

IMO our IDL is pretty bleak as far as pass rushing goes, that's even with Williams getting pushed inside in certain packages. We will see stopping the run is objective #1 right now!

I think there were a lot of "good" DTs but not many "great" ones ... Collins was easily the best run defending DT for the 49ers defense.

I agree with the upside ... but he's also a better run defender, better athlete, bigger, and longer than West. But we don't want them being the same player, we want the differences to matter :)

I consider it a bully pick, we like to bully people up front so I guess the bigger the better. We can rotate Collins and C.J West which may be the best of both worlds. It's Bosa's job to get to the QB right now.

Honestly, I think he's gonna be one of our misses. once again. I live in Texas and watch all Texas games. I know they've had some really good players on the defense line recently and so it's hard to earn playing time. But he wasn't even rotated in. Collins literally did nothing most of his time at Texas. He started his last year and was decent but not dominant. He's got size but soft size.

I won't be surprised if he's average with us and injury prone.

Originally posted by glorydayz:

Originally posted by Scoots:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by Since07:

Originally posted by glorydayz:

Originally posted by Since07:

Originally posted by GoreGoreGore:

Originally posted by jonnydel:

Originally posted by GoreGoreGore:

Originally posted by jonnydel:
So, like I posted in the Mykel Williams thread - I watched all of Collins's tape at Texas from this past season. Fire away with any questions y'all got. I couldn't post the video I made of it on YT because of some dubious copyright issues.

What seems to be his main weakness? Is he gotta have pad level issues like Kinlaw?

Main weakness is he's a little slow of foot for pass rush and doesn't have a lot of moves. He was the premiere run defending IDL in the draft. Gobs of power at the point, strong awareness, great length to control the engagement. But, he's not gonna jab step and go around many guards. He's a blunt force object.

We can live that. His main role should be a run stuffing DT, and if he develops as a pass rusher, that's just a bonus.

I know DT is one of the hardest positions to learn as a rookie, so hopefully he can at least be a good rotational player next year. Not expecting him to be Ngata his first year, but by year 3 hopefully he can at least be a a great run stuffer at the least.

I don't think this guy will ever be a pass rusher, maybe if he develops a bull rush he can push the pocket back.

How many good inside pass rushers are out there? I think he needs to eat up space so that our highly paid edge rushers can rush the passer.

I don't even think it matters if he starts, I think the IDL can be rotated for situational football. I don't think Collins is in the game on obvious passing downs, but on 3rd & 1 or at the goal line he could be a problem once he knows what he's doing.

Idk if space eater is the right words. He's a wall can't run at him but he's not chasing people down. IDL and run defense was a huge need so I'm okay with it, #43 seems a bit high though. I really wanted Josh Simmons I've seen some videos of him killing it in camp

Wasn't super thrilled with the Collins pick especially that early and this draft being stocked with DTs.

He's got a lot of work to do if he wants to be more than a run stopping DT. Feel like we get the same thing (and more juice as a pass rusher) with West a couple rds later. The upside of Collins is huge, but I feel like he's not very explosive & plays high.

IMO our IDL is pretty bleak as far as pass rushing goes, that's even with Williams getting pushed inside in certain packages. We will see stopping the run is objective #1 right now!

I think there were a lot of "good" DTs but not many "great" ones ... Collins was easily the best run defending DT for the 49ers defense.

I agree with the upside ... but he's also a better run defender, better athlete, bigger, and longer than West. But we don't want them being the same player, we want the differences to matter :)

I consider it a bully pick, we like to bully people up front so I guess the bigger the better. We can rotate Collins and C.J West which may be the best of both worlds. It's Bosa's job to get to the QB right now.

If West and Collins can command double teams then Bosa/Williams/Huff are going to win a lot of battles.

Originally posted by Scoots:
If West and Collins can command double teams then Bosa/Williams/Huff are going to win a lot of battles.

Double team? They'll be good against the run but no one is double teaming either of them outside of a schemed play call for an inside run. When passing, teams will double Bosa. Collins/West are just to slow to be a real threat against the pass

Originally posted by Scoots:
I agree. The 49ers were terrible on RPO plays, at least with Collins he hopefully solves that issue. I think Collins' pass rush is under-rated because of the team he was playing for ... I don't expect him to be GOOD as a pass rusher as a rookie, but I expect him to be better than his college tape shows.

Which DT would you have preferred at 43?

Didn't have to be a DT at 43, I liked Omarr Norman-Lott. I liked Harmon/Nolen and pebbles etc. I liked sanders as well.

I disagree with collins pass rush issues being about his team or whatever. Look I get needing to bulk up the run D. I don't see him being a legit pass rusher that you would expect at 43.

Originally posted by rtj03:
Honestly, I think he's gonna be one of our misses. once again. I live in Texas and watch all Texas games. I know they've had some really good players on the defense line recently and so it's hard to earn playing time. But he wasn't even rotated in. Collins literally did nothing most of his time at Texas. He started his last year and was decent but not dominant. He's got size but soft size.

I won't be surprised if he's average with us and injury prone.

I thought Broughton was very similar and I think he went a round later.

is what it is, he's a project as a pass rusher imo but he will stuff the run which is needed

Originally posted by rtj03:
Honestly, I think he's gonna be one of our misses. once again. I live in Texas and watch all Texas games. I know they've had some really good players on the defense line recently and so it's hard to earn playing time. But he wasn't even rotated in. Collins literally did nothing most of his time at Texas. He started his last year and was decent but not dominant. He's got size but soft size.

I won't be surprised if he's average with us and injury prone.

Where is the injury prone coming from? He rarely missed games.

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by Scoots:
I agree. The 49ers were terrible on RPO plays, at least with Collins he hopefully solves that issue. I think Collins' pass rush is under-rated because of the team he was playing for ... I don't expect him to be GOOD as a pass rusher as a rookie, but I expect him to be better than his college tape shows.

Which DT would you have preferred at 43?

Didn't have to be a DT at 43, I liked Omarr Norman-Lott. I liked Harmon/Nolen and pebbles etc. I liked sanders as well.

I disagree with collins pass rush issues being about his team or whatever. Look I get needing to bulk up the run D. I don't see him being a legit pass rusher that you would expect at 43.

Yeah, he's never going to be much of a pass rusher ... But if you are comparing what you want from him with what the 49ers got from Buckner that seems unfair. I think it's reasonable he could get 5 sacks a year and that's better than the 49ers average DT other than Buckner since Lynchahan took over.

I wonder more about how the team will use Collins/West/Anderson ... more the immovable object kinds of guys, vs the kind of meh group of "veteran" DTs on the roster who are generally smaller, quicker, and faster.

Iove the current trend of bashing this guy based on absolutely nothing lol

Originally posted by Scoots:
Yeah, he's never going to be much of a pass rusher ... But if you are comparing what you want from him with what the 49ers got from Buckner that seems unfair. I think it's reasonable he could get 5 sacks a year and that's better than the 49ers average DT other than Buckner since Lynchahan took over.

I wonder more about how the team will use Collins/West/Anderson ... more the immovable object kinds of guys, vs the kind of meh group of "veteran" DTs on the roster who are generally smaller, quicker, and faster.

I never said anything about Buck or trying to compare the two. I do expect a DT picked in the top 43 to bring some positive pass rush ability.

We will see with Collins, I wasn't a massive fan of the pick at that point and for what he offers currently. At least with Williams you saw a pass rush identity and the plus traits as an edge and interior rusher. If Collins turns into a 2 down DT imo that's not a great value at pick 43.

Originally posted by DonnieDarko:
Iove the current trend of bashing this guy based on absolutely nothing lol

No one is bashing anyone. Some folks didn't think he was worth the draft pick simply because he can't rush the passer right now.

The upside is pretty big but imo you got a guy like west who was an elite level run defender in his own right (taken a couple rds later). We will see with Collins, the floor is a really good run defender.

if he's A'Shawn Robinson are we good with that at pick 43?

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by Scoots:
Yeah, he's never going to be much of a pass rusher ... But if you are comparing what you want from him with what the 49ers got from Buckner that seems unfair. I think it's reasonable he could get 5 sacks a year and that's better than the 49ers average DT other than Buckner since Lynchahan took over.

I wonder more about how the team will use Collins/West/Anderson ... more the immovable object kinds of guys, vs the kind of meh group of "veteran" DTs on the roster who are generally smaller, quicker, and faster.

I never said anything about Buck or trying to compare the two. I do expect a DT picked in the top 43 to bring some positive pass rush ability.

We will see with Collins, I wasn't a massive fan of the pick at that point and for what he offers currently. At least with Williams you saw a pass rush identity and the plus traits as an edge and interior rusher. If Collins turns into a 2 down DT imo that's not a great value at pick 43.

I didn't say you said anything about Buckner, I said "if you are comparing" ... "if". Buckner is the last 49ers DT who was a good run defending and pass rushing DT.

If Collins is a 2 down DT then for the pick to make sense he better be a truly great 2 down DT.

Alan Branch was the 33rd pick.
Linval Joseph was the 46th pick
Kenny Clark was the 27th pick

Similar players picked around the same area.

I completely see the value in the theoretically Collins. Where the Collins pick becomes a little bit of a problem is when they took West in the 4th. West is more of a 0 and 1 tech so they don't play the same, but I wonder if they knew West was going to be available in the 4th if they would have taken Collins in the 2nd. I think they probably would have

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Originally posted by Scoots:
Yeah, he's never going to be much of a pass rusher ... But if you are comparing what you want from him with what the 49ers got from Buckner that seems unfair. I think it's reasonable he could get 5 sacks a year and that's better than the 49ers average DT other than Buckner since Lynchahan took over.

I wonder more about how the team will use Collins/West/Anderson ... more the immovable object kinds of guys, vs the kind of meh group of "veteran" DTs on the roster who are generally smaller, quicker, and faster.

I never said anything about Buck or trying to compare the two. I do expect a DT picked in the top 43 to bring some positive pass rush ability.

We will see with Collins, I wasn't a massive fan of the pick at that point and for what he offers currently. At least with Williams you saw a pass rush identity and the plus traits as an edge and interior rusher. If Collins turns into a 2 down DT imo that's not a great value at pick 43.

They've already said that they view him differently than you and do see the upside there for pass rush , hence why they took him where they did.

I hope he becomes an effective space eater.