The San Francisco 49ers made a big move in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft by picking Alfred Collins with the 43rd overall selection. Collins, a defensive lineman out of Texas, brings a rare mix of size, strength, and experience to the team. After five hard-fought seasons with the Longhorns, including a standout year in the SEC, he now gets the chance to take his talents to the next level. It feels like the best is still ahead of him.
Alfred Collins took the long road to get here. He started at Texas in 2020 and over five seasons played 63 games, starting 26 of them. Collins was not the flashiest player on the field, but he was the guy doing the dirty work that teams need to win. His best season came in 2024 when Texas moved to the SEC. Collins recorded 55 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, and a sack, earning First-Team All-SEC honors. He showed he could handle big-time competition and did it without much fanfare.
The 49ers were looking to beef up the defensive line, and they got exactly what they needed. Collins is a force against the run, using his 6-foot-5, 320-pound frame to plug gaps and wear down blockers. He is not just a space-eater, though. He can move better than most guys his size and has shown he can collapse the pocket when needed. While his pass rush could use more polish, San Francisco has the kind of coaching staff that can help him unlock that next level.
Getting drafted by a team like the 49ers feels like a perfect fit for Alfred Collins. He has spent his whole career getting a little better every year, and now he joins one of the best defensive units in the NFL. If he stays on the same path he has been on since 2020, there is no reason he cannot turn into a major piece for San Francisco. Texas molded him into a hard-nosed player, and now the 49ers are about to benefit from all the hard work.
Collins is not the loudest guy in the room, but his game speaks for itself. He has built his career on showing up, doing the work, and letting the results take care of the rest. That kind of attitude fits perfectly with what San Francisco has built over the years. He is the type of player who may not be on every highlight reel, but when you watch the games, you notice him. And in the NFL, that is the kind of player teams win with.
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