49ers Made a Big Move Most Other NFL Teams Haven’t Been Able to Accomplish

The contract stalemate between rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins and the San Francisco 49ers is finally over.

The 49ers have reached an agreement with their second-round draft pick (No. 43 overall) on a four-year, $10.3 million deal that includes $9 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The 6-foot-6, 332-pound Collins is just the third second-rounder to sign, joining Browns linebacker Carson Schwesigner and Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins. But Schefter suggested, citing sources, that his deal could trigger more deals in the coming weeks. Schwesigner and Higgins, the first two picks of the second round (Nos. 33 and 34, respectively), both received guaranteed contracts.

While Collins’ deal is not fully guaranteed, his $9 million guarantee surpasses the $6.9 million guarantee given to Cardinals cornerback Max Melton, who was selected in the same spot in the 2024 second round.

Alfred Collins to Play Key Role on 49ers’ Defense

Collins, 23, was the last of San Francisco’s 11 draft picks to sign ahead of the start of training camp on July 22. Rookies have been in camp since Tuesday.

Collins is expected to play an immediate role on the 49ers’ defensive line following the departures of 2024 starters Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins. He has yet to participate in the 49ers’ offseason program because of a calf injury.

He was a high-impact performer in college, tallying 141 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, seven sacks and one interception for Texas. He was First Team All-SEC and Second Team All-American as a fifth-year senior.

Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder raved about Collins’ strength in his pre-draft scouting report, calling him “strong as an ox.”

“Collins has impressive upper body strength and long arms to win at the point of attack and gain control of the block,” Holder wrote. “Combined with a wide base and sturdy lower half, he’s hard to move out of his gap one-on-one and can beat his man to defeat and make plays against double teams.”

Majority of 2nd-Round Draft Picks Remain Unsigned

Higgins made NFL history with his rookie deal, becoming the first second-round pick to land a fully guaranteed deal. He signed his four-year, $11.7 million pact in early May.

Schwesigner, who was chosen one spot ahead of Higgins, agreed to a four-year, $11.8 million deal soon after.

Traditionally, players selected in the first round are the only draft picks to receive fully guaranteed deals. As of Thursday morning, 29 of the 32 second-rounders remained unsigned.