Restocking the defensive line was easily the San Francisco 49ers' No. 1 focal point during the 2025 NFL Draft, and three of the Niners' first five picks were used to accomplish this, including the No. 11 overall selection of Georgia defensive end Mykel Williams.
But Williams, despite being just outside the top 10 players picked, might not be the San Francisco rookie D-lineman under the most pressure to deliver right away.
One round after taking Williams, the 49ers drafted Texas defensive tackle Alfred Collins, a hard-working interior defender who'll be tasked not only with solving what was previously an atrocious Niners run defense but also wreaking havoc on opposing pockets with regularity.
Of all the Niners rookies, Collins might be the one tasked with delivering the biggest immediate impact in year one.
Alfred Collins is under immense pressure to deliver for 49ers right away
Much of Collins' expectation level is due to context. Unlike Williams, who now has pass-rushing overstudies like defensive ends Nick Bosa and Bryce Huff on the roster, San Francisco's second-round pick is almost gifted the starting 3-technique position heading into training camp. About the only notable competition for the 6-foot-5, 332-pound rookie is veteran Jordan Elliott, whom the 49ers picked up a year ago but doesn't figure to be a full-time starter.
Collins, meanwhile, has the lofty expectation of plugging up interior rush lanes, and his pre-draft scouting report from NFL.com suggests he can do this right away.
That's good. But, for the rookie to meet those high expectations, he'll have to be more than just a two-down run-stuffing interior defender.
This is how Collins differs from the Niners' fourth-round pickup, defensive tackle C.J. West, who's more of a 1-technique nose tackle, fitting the mold for defensive coordinator Robert Saleh as such. While West, too, offers some pass-rushing upside, the later-drafted rookie is closer to being a base-down player as opposed to an every-down defender like Collins.
And San Francisco has more 1-tech options to support West, too, including veterans like Kevin Givens.
Collins doesn't quite have that level of support, though, especially after San Francisco bade farewell to long-established 3-technique defensive linemen like Javon Hargrave and Maliek Collins during the offseason.
Alfred Collins has the widest opportunity to contribute right away, although this also puts immense pressure on him to succeed right away, too.
No easy task.
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