The San Francisco 49ers already had several question marks about the defensive line, and those questions only intensified after news came out that second-year defensive tackle Alfred Collins tore his patellar tendon in practice in Australia and will be done for the season.
While the Niners probably won’t be able to fly anyone out in time for the Thursday night matchup against the Los Angeles Rams and will have to lean on practice squad options, they should immediately start looking for longer-term replacements.
That means general manager John Lynch should be working the phones to add someone, something he seemed open to doing when asked whether San Francisco would make a trade.
The Niners might as well go for a reunion while they’re at is as there are a number of defensive tackles who used to play for San Francisco who would be a great replacement for Collins.
5 reunions 49ers should pursue after losing Alfred Collins
DeForest Buckner
There are many 49ers fans who wish the team had never traded away DeForest Buckner. He was an integral part of the Niners' elite defense in 2019, but they shipped him to the Indianapolis Colts, ostensibly for financial reasons.
He has continued to be a solid player in Indy. Last season he had four sacks in 10 games played. He’s age 32 now and has a $26.6 million cap hit for this season. Maybe Colts want to get his contract off the books, and it ends up being a perfect reunion opportunity.
D.J. Jones
Jones was a solid defensive tackle for San Francisco from 2017 to 2022. He landed a nice contract in free agency from the Denver Broncos but has a $14.6 million cap hit this season.
He had three sacks last year and is still effective, so he’d be another solid replacement.
Maliek Collins
While Maliek Collins only played for the Niners for one season in 2024, he was a good player as he started all 17 games and had six sacks on the season. Last season, he played for the Cleveland Browns and had 6.5 sacks in 12 games played.
The Browns probably won’t be contending this year, so if they can get a draft pick for a veteran defensive tackle, they will have to say yes.
Solomon Thomas
While Solomon Thomas never lived up to the expectations many had for him when San Francisco drafted him No. 3 overall back in 2017, he’s been a solid journeyman player in the NFL.
He’s currently with Robert Saleh on the Tennessee Titans, and maybe if Saleh is feeling bad for the Niners, he can let them have Thomas back so they at least have some more depth.
Jordan Elliot
If Saleh wants to keep Thomas, maybe he’d be willing to part with Jordan Elliot whom Saleh packed from the 49ers in the offseason. Elliot was with San Francisco the last two years and was a serviceable player, although he didn’t have a single sack. He’d be more of a depth option, but at this point the, Niners can’t be all that picky.
It’s time for the Niners to make a move. It would make sense to bring back familiar face who know how San Francisco likes to do things on defense. But really, they just need to get anyone at this point because things are getting dangerously thin on the defensive line.
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