The San Francisco 49ers have bolstered their defensive line with another addition. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Houston Texans are trading Maliek Collins to the 49ers.
Trade: the Texans are trading defensive tackle Maliek Collins to the 49ers, per source. pic.twitter.com/GxcNL4ARTN
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2024
Schefter adds that San Francisco acquires the defensive player in exchange for a seventh-round draft pick.
Compensation update: 49ers are trading a 7th-round pick to the Texans for Maliek Collins, per source. https://t.co/XGzb7ktxqI
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2024
The move comes on the heels of the 49ers agreeing to terms on a two-year deal with impending free agent defensive tackle Jordan Elliott earlier this week. These acquisitions follow the news that veteran Arik Armstead is likely to be released after negotiations to reduce his salary for the upcoming season fell apart.
The Dallas Cowboys made Collins (6-2, 310) a third-round draft pick (No. 67 overall) out of Nebraska in 2016. Through 16 starts with the Texans last season, he registered 41 tackles, including eight for a loss, 18 quarterback hits, five sacks, and a pass defensed, per Pro Football Reference.
In his eight NFL seasons with the Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders, and Texans, the 28-year-old Collins has recorded 206 tackles, including 46 for a loss, 76 quarterback hits, 25.5 sacks, four passes defensed, an interception, and a forced fumble in 119 game appearances, with 112 starts.
Collins has recorded 50 defensive stops over the past two seasons, per Pro Football Focus. He is due an $8 million base salary in 2024. The 49ers will have an out on his contract after the upcoming season, should they choose not to pay his $9.5 million salary in 2025. The Texans reportedly save $3.47 million in the trade.