49ers draft DT Alfred Collins: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

The San Francisco 49ers selected Texas defensive tackle Alfred Collins with the No. 43 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Collins spent just one season as a full-time starter but played in 64 games — with 28 starts — over five seasons at Texas. He had 7 1/2 career sacks and finished his final season with 55 tackles, 5 1/2 tackles for loss, one sack and seven passes defended while starting all 16 games for the Longhorns and helping Texas reach the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.

‘The Beast’ breakdown

Collins ranked No. 68 in Dane Brugler’s top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:

A coordinated big man, Collins plays with natural power and does a great job as a two-gapper, stacking, peeking and grounding ball carriers between the tackles. His hands are more heavy than disciplined, and he struggles to root himself versus doubles because of his tall pads. Overall, Collins is still learning how to maximize his size and talent, but he took a sizable jump this past season and shows the physical traits to be a disruptive force, especially against the run. He will provide immediate depth as a rookie, and his snap count should increase with experience.

Scott Dochterman grades the pick

By design, Alfred Collins (6-5 5/8, 332) is the requisite two-gap defensive tackle necessary for San Francisco’s defense with his girth, incredible wingspan (85 inches) and arm length (35 inches). He batted down six passes last year for Texas and boasted 5 1/2 tackles for loss without pass rush being his first responsibility. Collins will be an immediate rotational piece with starting ability. The 49ers are remaking their defensive front.

How he fits

The 49ers went for bulk in the middle with Collins, who’s 332 pounds and whose 85-inch wingspan was the second-longest of all the draftable defensive tackles in the draft. Collins provides an anchor point for the defensive line, and his girth ought to help a 49ers’ run defense that withered down the stretch last season. Pro Football Focus gave Collins a solid 85.0 run grade in 2024 and he had only two missed tackles.

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Depth-chart impact

Collins likely will compete with Jordan Elliott for a spot in the starting lineup. Elliott, a free-agent addition in 2023, took over a starting spot last year when Javon Hargrave got hurt in Week 3. Though he started 13 games, Elliott finished with no sacks and never has had more than 2 1/2 in any of his four NFL seasons. Collins is no sack master, either. He never had more than two sacks in any season at Texas.

They also could have picked …

The 49ers picked Collins over Darius Alexander, a defensive tackle from Toledo. Alexander is more of a penetrating defensive tackle while Collins has the size and balance to take on double-teams. The 49ers also could have taken an offensive tackle with the pick. There were two available, Minnesota’s Aereontae Ersery and N.C. State’s Anthony Belton, when the team was on the clock.

Fast evaluation

Collins seems like a solid pick at No. 43 because he can serve as a foundational piece for the defensive line. His selection also gives the 49ers the freedom to take a smaller, quicker, one-gapping defensive tackle later in the draft. There should be several available in rounds 3 through 5.

(Photo: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)

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