The San Francisco 49ers have a problem on offense. Brandon Aiyuk wants out, and the standoff with the disgruntled wide receiver has dragged on all offseason. But on the other side of the ball, things are starting to look genuinely scary.
Matt Barrows of The Athletic pointed to defensive tackle Alfred Collins as a potential breakout player for the 49ers in 2026. And here’s the thing — Collins didn’t exactly light up the stat sheet as a rookie. He played nearly 500 snaps, managed four quarterback hits, and did his job without making many flashy plays. But the 49ers saw enough to believe he can take a real leap in Year Two.
This year, Collins will line up next to veteran Osa Odighizuwa, who the 49ers signed in free agency. Odighizuwa is a proven interior disruptor, and together, they create a classic pick-your-poison scenario for offensive lines. Double-team one, and the other gets a one-on-one matchup. Slide protection his way, and Collins has room to work. It’s the kind of problem coordinators hate dealing with on a short week.
Why Collins matters more than the numbers show
The 49ers drafted Collins in the third round out of Texas in 2025. He’s a big body — 6-foot-5, 320 pounds — with the kind of raw power that shows up more in the run game than the pass rush. But the coaching staff saw steady improvement over the course of his rookie season, especially in the second half. He started reading plays faster, using his hands better, and holding his ground against double teams.
Barrows also mentioned fellow 2025 draft pick Mykel Williams as another player the 49ers need to take a step forward. Williams is an edge rusher with length and burst, but he dealt with nagging injuries last season and never really got into a rhythm. If both Collins and Williams develop this year, the 49ers could have a defensive line that rivals the best in the NFC.
The injury bug hit hard again in 2025
Last season was another rough one for the 49ers on the health front. Linebacker Fred Warner missed time with an injury, which felt almost impossible given his durability streak. The team still managed to sneak into the playoffs and pull off a road upset against the Philadelphia Eagles, which was genuinely impressive. But they ran out of gas in the divisional round against the Seahawks, who went on to win the Super Bowl.
So the 49ers have a clear path forward. Stay healthy, get the young guys to develop, and let the Collins-Odighizuwa duo do its thing. Aiyuk’s situation will get sorted out eventually, one way or another. But the defense might not need him to be great.
The 49ers open the season on September 10 against the Rams in Los Angeles. Prime time. We’ll see pretty quickly if this defensive line is for real.
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