San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Alfred Collins played in 16 games as a rookie, but the 2025 second-rounder needs to prove in his second season that he was worth the investment.
Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon named Collins as the 49ers’ most important second-year player heading into the 2026 season because of the injuries to the defensive line. Collins has to step up and develop into an every-down player for the 49ers, with 2025 starters Kalia Davis and Jordan Elliott both gone.
No. 11 overall pick Mykel Williams probably comes to mind first, but he’ll be hard-pressed to make an early impact coming off a torn ACL. Combine that with the fact Nick Bosa is also recovering from the same injury, and you can see why so much could fall on Collins—the team’s second-rounder—to hold down the fort up front alongside newcomer Osa Odighizuwa.
Collins started one of his 16 games as a rookie, finishing with one sack, 17 combined tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The turnover production stood out for an interior defender still working into a larger role, and it’s part of why San Francisco may lean on him more heavily in Year 2. But that overall production simply isn’t going to cut it on a defense that needs more stops in 2026.
With Williams and Bosa both working back from torn ACLs, the 49ers’ edge rush is facing real uncertainty to start the season. That puts added weight on the interior of the defensive line, where Collins is expected to pair with offseason addition Odighizuwa to anchor the run defense and provide interior pressure while the team’s top edge talent recovers.
If Collins can build on his rookie tape and take on a featured role up front, he could help stabilize a defensive line dealing with significant uncertainty at one of its most important positions. How quickly Williams and Bosa return will shape San Francisco’s pass-rush ceiling, but Collins’ development may determine how much the run defense and interior pressure hold up in the meantime.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Who is the 49ers most important 2nd-year player?
Reporting by Oliver G., Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Oliver G., Niners Wire | USA TODAY Network
