Texans trade DT Maliek Collins to 49ers for 7th-round pick, per report

The Houston Texans continue to make moves along the defensive line.

Houston has agreed to ship defensive tackle Maliek Collins to the San Francisco 49ers for a seventh-round pick, according to KPRC’s 2 Aaron Wilson. The deal frees up about $3.4 million in salary cap space, per Spotrac.

#Texans to trade defensive tackle Maliek Collins to #49ers per a league source. #Texans among teams including #Bengals and #Lions with interest in Arik Armstead who hasn’t been released officially yet @KPRC2

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 13, 2024

Collins, 29, was the Cowboys’ third-round draft pick in 2016. He played for Houston for the past three seasons. In 2023, Collins signed a two-year, $23 million contract. He tallied five sacks this past season and 18 quarterback hits.

San Francisco will be Collins’ fourth team in his career. In his eight-year career, he recorded 206 tackles, 25.5 sacks, 80 TFL, and 76 QB hits.

Houston made other defensive line moves this offseason already. The Texans signed free agents Denico Autry and Danielle Hunter to beef up its pass rush after they lost Jonathan Greenard to the Minnesota Vikings.

There are also reports Houston is interested in 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead, who San Francisco reportedly plans to release, as Wilso noted. The Texans have also looked into Chase Young, another 49ers defensive lineman, according to Sports Illustrated’s Coty Davis.

Armstead, 30, ranked in the top-10 in several pass-rushing categories a year ago. He played for two seasons under current Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator before he came to Houston. 

Young, meanwhile, is the former 2020 No. 2 pick who spent the final nine games of this past season with the San Francisco 49ers after a mid-year trade from the Washington Commanders. Young tallied 2.5 sacks with the 49ers after five sacks with the Commanders in 2023.