The San Francisco 49ers have been hard at work revamping their roster after their disappointing 2024 campaign. Much of the front office’s efforts have been geared towards creating cap space to sign star quarterback Brock Purdy to the five-year, $265 million deal the two sides agreed upon last month. Now, the team is trying to sign all of their draft picks before training camp gets underway.
On Friday, the 49ers officially signed fourth-round pick C.J. West to a four-year, $5.21 million contract as the front office checked off another box. However, they still have one unsigned draft pick, and it’s an important one, as second-rounder Alfred Collins has yet to put pen to paper on his rookie deal with San Francisco.
49ers, Alfred Collins Still Negotiating Rookie Contract
San Francisco worked on shoring up their defense in the draft, as they used their first five picks to address that side of the ball. Of those selections, four were used on spots in the front seven, with Collins being among that group. A standout defensive tackle for the Texas Longhorns in college, the 49ers selected Collins in the second round after picking Mykel Williams in the first round with hopes that they could anchor their defensive line for years to come.
Collins enjoyed the best season of his collegiate career in 2024 with the Longhorns. In 16 games, Collins racked up 55 tackles, six of which went for a loss, one sack, seven passes batted, and a forced fumble. Standing at six-foot-five and weighing 302 pounds, Collins is a big body who clogs running lanes and commands attention from multiple offensive linemen when he rushes the quarterback.
The problem for San Francisco is that Collins has not signed his rookie contract yet. With West, another defensive tackle, inking his deal, that leaves Collins as the team’s last unsigned draft pick. Several second rounders across the league are looking to get more guaranteed money on their deals, and Collins is a part of that crowd, so it’s fair to wonder when his situation will get resolved.
“With West now under contract, only second-round pick Alfred Collins remains unsigned among the 49ers’ 2025 draft selections,” David Bonilla wrote for 49ers Webzone after news of West’s deal came to light.
Should 49ers Be Concerned About Alfred Collins Contract Situation?
GettyAlfred Collins is the lone 49ers rookie who has not signed with the team after the 2025 NFL Draft
As of Wednesday, 30 of the 40 unsigned rookies were second-round picks, and that’s because the first two players selected in round No. 2 were given fully guaranteed contracts. After seeing that, everyone else behind them decided to see if they could get more guaranteed money on their deals, leading to this backup that has taken place across the league.
With that in mind, it’s not a major concern that Collins hasn’t signed yet, as these things have a habit of working themselves out before training camp starts. However, the 49ers front office is going to have to find a way to get Collins to sign his rookie deal sooner rather than later, and the longer this stalemate drags on, the more concerned fans will get.
