Sources: 49ers' Collins third Round 2 pick in fold

Published: Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 5:25 am

49ers Sign Defensive Tackle Alfred Collins, Breaking Contract Impasse

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The San Francisco 49ers have finalized a contract agreement with defensive tackle Alfred Collins, according to sources. The deal, valued at $10.3 million over four years, includes $9 million in guaranteed money. This signing is significant as it breaks a recent logjam in contract negotiations for second-round draft picks across the NFL.

Before Collins' agreement, only two second-round selections had signed their rookie contracts: Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger and Houston Texans receiver Jayden Higgins. Both players, drafted with the first two picks of the second round, secured fully guaranteed rookie contracts in early May. These deals set a precedent, leading to a standoff between teams and other second-round picks, who sought similar guarantees or increased guaranteed money in their own contracts.

Collins, drafted as the No. 43 overall pick, did not receive a fully guaranteed contract like Schwesinger and Higgins. However, his $9 million guarantee surpasses the $6.93 million guaranteed to Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton, who was selected in the same draft position.

With Collins' signing, the 49ers have now secured contracts for their entire 11-man draft class before the start of training camp on July 22. Collins is expected to play a significant role on the 49ers' defensive line. The team released both of its 2024 starting interior defensive linemen and drafted Collins, who recorded 141 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 7 sacks during his college career. Collins did not participate in the team's organized team activities or minicamps due to a calf injury.

BNN's Perspective: The Collins signing is a positive development for the 49ers and the NFL as a whole. While the trend towards fully guaranteed contracts for all second-round picks is not yet established, this deal signals a willingness to compromise and move forward. It will be interesting to see how this impacts future negotiations and the overall financial landscape for rookie contracts.

Keywords: 49ers, Alfred Collins, contract, NFL, rookie, guaranteed, draft, defensive tackle, signing, training camp, second round, Carson Schwesinger, Jayden Higgins, Max Melton, Javon Hargrave, Maliek Collins, Texas Longhorns

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