The 49ers’ need for interior defensive linemen became even more pronounced Sunday with the news that tackle Maliek Collins will be released.
Collins, who turns 30 next month, played in all 17 games for the 49ers and recorded five sacks. And while Collins seemed highly regarded by his teammates and received mostly praise from the coaching staff, he was at the center of a defense that was gashed by run repeatedly during a 2-7 finish in a 6-11 season.
The 49ers made no announcement regarding Collins, with both ESPN (Adam Schefter) and NFL Network (Mike Garofolo) reporting the move. Assuming Collins is officially released (meaning the 49ers couldn’t trade him for a late-round draft pick) he’ll be free to sign with any team.
Collins was scheduled to make $1.255 million in salary and had a cap number of $4.762 and was due $10 million including an option bonus for 2025, an indication the transaction was more about production than accounting.
The 49ers currently have only three defensive tackles — Jordan Elliott, Evan Anderson and Kalia Davis — on their depth chart. Veteran Kevin Givens is scheduled for unrestricted free agency. So it’s clear that when negotiating period begins Monday, defensive tackle will be a point of interest as well as the NFL Draft.
The 49ers are scheduled to have the No. 11 overall pick and defensive tackle is considered to be one of the strongest positions in terms of talent.
Among the free agent defensive tackles who recently became available is Washington’s Jonathan Allen, who was released Friday when the Commanders couldn’t trade him. Allen (6-foot-3, 300 pounds) was reportedly included in original trade talks with the 49ers and Commanders when wide receiver Deebo Samuel was dealt for a fifth-round draft pick.
The final year of Allen’s contract was to pay him $15.5 million, coming after a season in which he played in eight games with three sacks because of a torn pectoral muscle. Allen was extremely durable before last season, playing on 109 games with 108 starts. He was a Pro Bowl player in 2021 and 2022.
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The question remains whether Allen would be too rich for the 49ers blood, given general manager John Lynch’s talk of an “organizational reset” while talking with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine.
One player who would likely come cheaper than Allen is defensive end Joey Bosa, who was released by the Los Angeles Chargers after missing 28 of 51 games over the last three seasons due to injury. Joey Bosa could conceivably sign for a short-term deal with incentives for a chance to be a bookend pass rusher with his brother Nick.
