Browns extend defensive player with $30 million deal overnight

The defensive tackle spot this year has been a roller coaster with various players missing time. But Maliek Collins has been a steady hand in regards to his run defense.

On Saturday, the Browns rewarded his efforts by inking him to a two-year contract extension worth $30 million.

The defensive tackle group started the season as one of the bright spots on this year's defense, but then different members began to get injured , such as Mason Graham and Mike Hall. This forced other players to step up and step in, as Collins kept showing up.

Collins has played and started all six games on the schedule this season. He has 16 total tackles, five of which are for a loss. He also has 3.5 sacks, which is uncommon for a defensive tackle to be able to place that much pressure in the opposing backfield on passing downs.

Other stats include 8 QB hits, 8 pressures, 4 knockdowns, and just 2 missed tackles.

The deal is for another two years with $23 million guaranteed. This was the final year of his two-year contract he signed at the beginning of last season. In 2025, Collins had 6.5 sacks, 25 QB hits, and 15 pressures, among other stats, in a season in which he suffered a season-ending quad injury that placed him on IR.

It seems that Collins has been the only defensive tackle who hasn't seen the doctor on a regular basis. Graham began the season with four sacks and then had an ankle sprain plus a left MCL sprain in the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has been out since, but is expected to return against the Tennessee Titans. Hall has only played in four games with zero starts. He injured his right ankle in the Steelers game as well. The injury seems to be persistent, and his return is questionable. Backup Adin Huntington has filled the void while the injured players have missed time.

Collins came to the Browns beginning in 2025 after stints with the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, and the Dallas Cowboys. He was selected in Round 3 of the 2016 NFL Draft by Dallas.