Maliek Collins knows he is built for an attack-style defense. It's the only style he has ever played in during his NFL career.
So, when he learned that he would become a free agent when the new league year began on March 12, he searched for a sense of familiarity. As he looked for his next NFL team, not only did he see an opportunity with the Browns to play in an attack-style defense, but he also had the chance to play for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and reunite with a former coach – defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire, who he spent two seasons with at the Texans.
"Just being familiar with this scheme, being familiar with Schwartz, I thought that this would be the best fit for me at this stage," Collins said.
Collins signed a two-year deal with the Browns and joins a defensive line that features former Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett and DE Ogbo Okoronkwo on the edges, as well as veteran DT Shelby Harris, and younger players in DT Mike Hall Jr. and DT Jowon Briggs on the interior.
Yet, the defensive line is filled with familiar faces as well, as Collins knows Harris and played with Okoronkwo during the 2022 season with the Texans. Hall and Collins both have the same trainer and were introduced to one another on Collins' first day at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
"Hearing people and seeing people that I'm familiar with and I study D-line play, so I'm super excited to actually get to play with some of these guys and I'm ready to get at it," Collins said.
The Browns continued their free agent visits as Defensive tackle Maliek Collins toured CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on his official visit to Cleveland.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
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.
At each stop throughout his NFL career, Collins said he has played in a 4-3 attack-style defense. Playing in a similar scheme over nine years – even with four different teams – allowed him to hone is skillset to that style of defense. While the scheme stayed mostly similar, Collins also used each stop to learn from different coaching staffs and styles.
"I think it's just made me more well-rounded in how to receive coaching, how to give feedback and just knowing what is expected of me," Collins said. "It's helped me become a more polished rusher, when to use certain rushes and when to not use certain rushes. It's stuff like that I hope I can pass along to the younger guys that maybe haven't been at as many stops as me."
His veteran experience on the interior will bring necessary depth to the Browns defensive line as they look to return to their defensive dominance in both stopping the run and rushing the passer. That's where Collins views his skillset fitting in with the defensive line. Over the course of his career, he's established himself as a rusher and interior pass rusher, as well as someone who can get off the ball.
"I like to hit the person in front of me, put my hat under their chin. It's just my style of play," Collins said. "I got a pass rush bag and I'm ready to display it."
Defensively, the Browns are working to return to their level of dominance they had in 2023 when they led the league in numerous categories, including total defense allowed with 270.2 yards per game. They also had the best passing defense in the league – allowing 164.7 yards per game – and led the NFL in third down percentage, with teams only converting 29.1 percent of third-down attempts.
Yet, in 2024, they did not play to the same caliber. The Browns gave up an average of 342.1 total yards per game, ranked 19th in the league, with 53 touchdowns allowed. They allowed an average of 212.4 passing yards per game – 12th in the league – and 129.7 rushing yards per game – 21st in the league.
Collins has lived through that experience – most recently in Houston – and believes the Browns can do so once again starting with the 2025.
"I've been in places where you had a down year before and you come back and you're a playoff team – just recently in Houston," Collins said. "I think that's exciting just to see the excitement that it brings to the city. That does everything to the culture of a team and to the city. I'm excited to see that type of transition here, even though it's been done in recent history, I'm excited to see that be done and hopefully continue to be done."
The Browns have signed DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, OT Cornelius Lucas, LB Devin Bush and DT Maliek Collins during the 2025 free agency period to add depth to the roster at numerous positions.
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 4, 2024.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (9) drops back in coverage while watching the passer during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 15 2023, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 19, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during a preseason NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks on August 24, 2024 at Lumen Field. The Browns lost 33-37.
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)
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 19, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
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)
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (9) works against Atlanta Falcons tight end MyCole Pruitt (85) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Atlanta. The Atlanta Falcons won 30-17. (AP Photo/Danny Karnik)
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during a NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football on November 21, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns won 24-19.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 19, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) before a NFL football game between the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns on December 29, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 20-3.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Maliek Collins (97) walks off the field after a 32-31 win against the Denver Broncos in an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan.. 3, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Justin Edmonds)
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) before a NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 17-33.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 19, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during a NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Cleveland Browns on December 15, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 7-21.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (9) warms up before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) before a NFL football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Cleveland Browns on November 3, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 10-27.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (9) takes a picture with fans after an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2024.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) is sacked by Houston Texans defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during a preseason NFL football game between the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns on August 10, 2024 at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Browns lost 10-23.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during a NFL football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Cleveland Browns on November 3, 2024 at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns lost 10-27.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Chicago Bears offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (73) plays against the New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
Offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (78) plays in an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 14, 2025.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (9) defends during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka signs his contract at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
Houston Texans defensive lineman Maliek Collins (97) rushes during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
Defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka visits CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 13, 2025.
