49ers news: Maliek Collins contract restructured to help extend Trent Williams

As the San Francisco 49ers work out the final details of Trent Williams’s new contract extension, ESPN’s Field Yates reported the Niners created some cap space that might’ve been just what the team needed to finalize a deal.

Defensive tackle Maliek Collins restructured his deal, which created $5.43 million in cap space. Collins is in the first year of a two-year contract, so this just kicks the money down the road another year. He’s guaranteed $6 million in 2024, per Over the Cap. This move likely changes Collins’ cap number, but we’ll have those exact details soon enough.

It’s also a sign that the 49ers plan on keeping Collins in 2025 when he turns 30. So, perhaps it’s a sign they’ve been impressed enough with Collins during training camp and the preseason to re-work his deal.

Collins will be relied on heavily this season alongside Javon Hargrave in the middle. That was always going to be the case, but if Yeture Gross-Matos misses time during the regular season, Collins’ role will expand as the 49ers look for an interior pass rush.