The Browns are bolstering their defensive line, as they have agreed to terms with DT Maliek Collins on a two-year deal.
Collins spent the 2024 season with the 49ers after he was acquired in a trade in the offseason. He started all 17 games on the interior of the defensive line and recording 33 tackles, five tackles for loss, 12 quarterback hits, five sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Drafted in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Cowboys, Collins spent the first four years of his NFL career in Dallas. He then spent the 2020 season with the Raiders before he signed with the Texans in 2021 and played three seasons in Houston. Over his nine-year career, Collins has recorded 239 tackles, 51 tackles for loss, 88 quarterback hits, and 30.5 sacks. He has also added one interception, four passes defensed, one forced fumble and eight fumble recoveries over his 136-game career.
Collins joins a defensive line that features former Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett on the edge, as well as veteran DT Shelby Harris and younger players in DT Mike Hall Jr. and DT Jowon Briggs on the interior. His veteran experience on the interior will bring necessary depth to the defensive line as they look to return to their defensive dominance in both stopping the run and rushing the passer.
He could step into a larger role from the beginning, as the Browns also are awaiting the return of Hall, who sustained an injury in Week 18 against the Ravens and will miss time in his recovery. While there is no clear timeline for his return in 2025, Collins comes in as a necessary piece for the interior of the defensive line.
Collins is the second defensive linemen the Browns have agreed to terms with at the start of free agency. They also agreed to terms with DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.
The Browns agreed to terms with DE Maliek Collins, who has appeared in 136 games over his nine-year career with 129 starts for the Cowboys, Raiders, Texans and 49ers.
Houston Texans defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) is introduced before an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Sep. 17, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Maliek Collins (99) runs onto the field during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Thursday, December 12, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
Houston Texans defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) lines up during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 21-19. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Maliek Collins (99) rushes to make a tackle attempt during an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions on Monday, December 30, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Lions defeated the 49ers, 40-34. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Maliek Collins (99) rushes during an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sunday, November 17, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker)
Houston Texans defensive lineman Maliek Collins (97) smiles as he sits on the bench during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday Nov. 7, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Doug Murray)
San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Maliek Collins (99) takes the field prior to an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions on Monday, December 30, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. The Lions defeated the 49ers, 40-34. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Nebraska defensive lineman Maliek Collins runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Maliek Collins (99) leaves the field following an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) is tackled by Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Maliek Collins (97) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) looks on against the Miami Dolphins during the second half of a NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Nebraska defensive tackle Maliek Collins (7) sacks UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen during the Foster Farms Bowl NCAA college football game against UCLA Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Maliek Collins rushes the quarterback during an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) looks on against the Green Bay Packers in an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)
Nebraska defensive lineman Maliek Collins runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Maliek Collins (97) lines up during the first half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 43-6. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Dallas Cowboys' Maliek Collins runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) rushes against Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Caleb Benenoch (77) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Maliek Collins (97) laughs on the sidelines against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan.. 3, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Justin Edmonds)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) carries the ball while Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) defends during an NFL Wild Card football game, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Sam Hodde via AP)
Dallas Cowboys' Sean Lee, left, Maliek Collins (96) and DeMarcus Lawrence (90) celebrate a sack by Lawrence during an NFL football game against the New York Giants on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Nebraska defensive lineman Maliek Collins runs the 40 yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Washington Redskins running back Chris Thompson (25) is chased down by Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during the first half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) recovers a Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Jameis Winston fumble as Gosder Cherilus, center, and Joe Hawley (68) challenge for control in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Dallas Cowboys athletic trainers Britt Brown, left, and Jim Maurer, right, assist Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) after Collins suffered an unknown injury during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
Purdue quarterback Austin Appleby (12) throws under pressure from Nebraska defensive tackle Maliek Collins (7) in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014. Nebraska won 45-14. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Nebraska defensive tackle Maliek Collins (7) tries to reach for Wyoming quarterback Brett Smith (16) during their Saturday Aug 31, 2013 NCAA college football game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb.(AP Photo/Dave Weaver)
Nebraska NCAA college football defensive tackle Maliek Collins laughs during a news conference in Lincoln, Neb., Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, ahead of Saturday's season opener against Brigham Young. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Nebraska defensive tackle Maliek Collins (7) during the Foster Farms Bowl NCAA college football game against UCLA Saturday, Dec. 26, 2015, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
