4 plays that show what the 49ers are getting in Maliek Collins

Jason helps us out with what we can expect from the 49ers newest member

The 49ers continue to add to their defensive line with a trade for Maliek Collins from the Texans in exchange for a seventh-round pick. The team just parted ways with Arik Armstead and will replace him with Collins, Kevin Givens, and Jordan Elliott, who spent last season with the Cleveland Browns.

Elliott specializes in run defense, but Collins is much more efficient as a pass rusher. In 2023, Collins finished with a career-high seven sacks, 45 pressures, and 12 hurries on 453 pass-rushing snaps.

Collins’s best game of the season was in Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers, in which he recorded four pressures, three sacks, and a hurry.

Let’s take a look at Collins’s game in Carolina.

The first clip shows Collins stuffing the run on a third-and-goal. Collins finished last season with a 45.6 run defense grade, but this is a great rep against the run. Collins carries the guard and finishes the play behind the line of scrimmage.

This clip shows Collins shedding a block from Austin Corbett and finishing the play with a sack of Bryce Young. One-on-one is where Collins will excel, especially playing next to Javon Hargrave.

Collins’s second sack of the game is an effort sack after Kurt Hinish washes two offensive linemen out, allowing Collins a free rush to Young. Effort isn’t an issue for Collins. The next play illustrates that.

The Texans’ defense married their coverage to the pass rush well as they disguised the coverage from zone to man, which allowed Collins to get to Young for his third sack of the game. Again, effort isn’t an issue for Collins.

The 49ers are looking to replace Armstead with a rotation of players following the loss of Javon Kinlaw and Armstead. Collins fills the pass-rushing role very well and will be in on obvious passing situations. The 49ers are again betting that Kris Kocurek will get the best from the newest acquisitions.

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