Collins entered the NFL in 2016 as a third-round pick who few people saw as a long-term starter. Over eleven seasons, he became a durable interior pass rusher. He played for five teams. He also kept earning bigger contracts. A quad injury ended his 2025 season. It also kept him out of all of 2026 training camp. He returned in late August. On 24 October 2026, the Browns gave him a two-year, $30 million extension. Looking for Maliek Collins stats and age? This guide also covers his height, contract, injury, and net worth. It shows the numbers and the story behind them.
Maliek Collins Profile
| Attribute | Detail |
| Full Name | Maliek Collins |
| Date of Birth | 8 April 1995 |
| Age | 31 years (October 2026) |
| Next Birthday | 32 on 8 April 2027 |
| Home State | Missouri (Center High School) |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in |
| Weight | 310 lb |
| Position | Defensive tackle |
| College | Nebraska |
| NFL Draft | 2016, Round 3, Dallas Cowboys |
| Current Team | Cleveland Browns |
| Jersey Number | 96 |
| NFL Experience | 11th season (2026) |
| Previous Teams | Cowboys, Raiders, Texans, 49ers |
| Contract | Two-year, $30M extension (October 2026) |
Early Life & Background
Collins was born on 8 April 1995. He attended Center High School in Missouri. He played defensive line there and drew college interest. Chose Nebraska. He played for the Cornhuskers. After his junior year, he skipped his senior season. He entered the 2016 NFL Draft instead. Scouts liked his quick first step. They also liked how he got through gaps. Some thought he was a little undersized for a tackle. The Dallas Cowboys picked him in the third round. He signed a four-year rookie deal worth about $3.55 million.
Maliek Collins Family Background
| Relation | Detail |
| Parents | Not publicly detailed |
| Wife / Partner | Not publicly confirmed |
| Children | Not publicly confirmed |
| Hometown School | Center High School, Missouri |
| College | Nebraska |
Collins keeps his family life private. Very little verified information exists. He rarely appears in tabloid or social media news. Most coverage focuses on his play. Any family detail you find online should be treated with care.
How His Career Actually Unfolded
| Phase | Years | Notes |
| Nebraska | Until 2015 | Left after junior season |
| Cowboys | 2016 to 2019 | Third-round pick; first sack as a rookie |
| Raiders | 2020 | One-year deal |
| Texans | 2021 to 2023 | 11 sacks in three seasons |
| 49ers | 2024 | Acquired for a seventh-round pick |
| Release | 2025 | Cut by San Francisco as a cap casualty |
| Browns | 2025 to present | Two-year, $20M deal; then a $30M extension |
| Injury | December 2025 | Quad injury ended his season |
| Comeback | August 2026 | Activated from the PUP list |
Collins started his rookie year as the fourth defensive tackle on the Cowboys’ depth chart. He did not record a stat in his debut against the Giants. He improved fast. By late November, he had his third sack of the year against the Vikings and Sam Bradford. Injuries marked his later Dallas years. He had foot surgery in May 2018. He also missed games with a knee injury. Even so, he had 10.5 sacks in 45 games over his first three seasons. That is a high number for an interior lineman.
He then moved on. He spent 2020 with the Raiders. Joined the Texans in 2021. Houston revived his career. He signed a two-year, $17 million deal. Then he re-signed for two years and $23 million. The Texans traded him to the 49ers in March 2024. San Francisco released him in 2025. The Browns signed him quickly.
Maliek Collins Stats: NFL Career
| Stat | Total |
| Games Played | 155 |
| Career Sacks | 40.5 |
| Seasons | 11 |
| Teams | 5 |
Career games and sacks are from Pro Football Reference as of late October 2026. Other sites list slightly different totals. That is because each site credits shared sacks and assists differently. Still, 40.5 career sacks is a strong figure. He plays inside, where sacks are harder to get. He did it while missing time with foot, knee, oblique, and quad injuries.
Maliek Collins Stats at a Glance: 2026 Season
| 2026 Stat (through Week 7) | Number |
| Games Played | 7 |
| Games Started | 7 |
| Total Tackles | 17 |
| Sacks | 3.5 |
| Forced Fumbles | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| PFF Pass-Rush Grade | 71.0 (19th of 130 interior linemen) |
| PFF Total Pressures | 18 (13th of 130) |
| PFF Overall Grade | 61.1 (52nd of 130) |
| PFF Run-Defense Grade | 55.1 (63rd of 130) |
His pass-rush grade is his strongest mark. His run-defense grade is lower. That fits his style. He wins on the snap with a quick first step.
Maliek Collins Recent Form: 2026 Sacks by Game
| Game | Sacks | Notes |
| vs Steelers | 1.0 | First sack of the year |
| at Jets | 1.5 | Season high so far |
| vs Ravens | 1.0 | Third sacking game |
| Other games through Week 7 | 0.0 | Pressure without a sack |
Three games account for all 3.5 sacks. That is normal for an interior rusher. His production comes in bursts. PFF credits him with four sacks, fourth at his position. Sack counts vary slightly by source.
Maliek Collins Records & Milestones
| Milestone | Detail |
| Career-high sacks in a game | 2.5 vs Raiders, November 2025 |
| Career games | 155 |
| Career sacks | 40.5 |
| Sacks with Texans | 11 over three seasons |
| First three seasons | 10.5 sacks in 45 games |
| Contract growth | $3.55M rookie deal to $30M extension |
The 2.5-sack game came in Week 12 of 2025. The Browns sacked Geno Smith 10 times that day. Myles Garrett had three of them. He set a new franchise record with 18 sacks for the season. Collins had the best game of his career.
Maliek Collins Injury: The Timeline
| Date | Event |
| May 2018 | Foot surgery |
| 2025 | Oblique issue before a Week 11 game vs Ravens; he played |
| December 2025 | Quad injury; Stefanski says he is done for the year |
| Summer 2026 | Placed on the PUP list; misses all of camp |
| 24 August 2026 | Activated after passing his physical |
| Week 1 to 7, 2026 | Starts all seven games |
Collins missed all of training camp in 2026. That raised questions about his role. He answered them on the field. He has started every game since returning. The injury history is also why the Browns managed his workload carefully. The extension shows they trust his health.
Maliek Collins Contract & Extension
| Deal | Years | Value |
| Cowboys rookie contract | 2016 to 2019 | About $3.55M |
| Raiders | 2020 | One year |
| Texans | 2021 | One year |
| Texans | 2022 to 2023 | Two years, $17M |
| Texans re-sign | 2024 to 2025 | Two years, $23M |
| Browns | 2025 to 2026 | Two years, 20M(13M guaranteed) |
| Browns extension | Through 2028 | Two years, 30M(23M guaranteed) |
On 24 October 2026, the Browns and Collins agreed to the extension. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, announced it. Collins was in the final year of his deal. He would have been a free agent next spring. His 2026 cap number is about $5.3 million. His 2027 figure is nearly $10 million. The deal averages about $15 million per year.
Note that the Texans traded him before the second Houston deal ended. The 49ers then cut him. Few players see that path and still earn $30 million.
Maliek Collins and the 2026 Browns Defense
As of 24 October 2026, Cleveland ranks fifth in scoring defense. The Browns also sit first in the AFC North. Over his first six starts, Collins had 3.5 sacks, 16 tackles, and eight quarterback hits. Garrett draws double teams on the edge. That gives Collins more one-on-one blocks inside. The result is steady pressure up the middle. It also helps explain why the Browns moved quickly on the extension.
Maliek Collins Net Worth
There is no verified figure for Collins’ net worth. No reliable public estimate exists either. What can be confirmed is the contract history above. He earned a rookie deal of about $3.55 million. He then signed deals worth $17 million, $23 million, and $20 million. The new extension adds $30 million, with $23 million guaranteed. He also earned one-year salaries with the Raiders and Texans. Taxes, agent fees, and cap structure mean contract value is not take-home pay. Any total you see online is an estimate. Those estimates are not confirmed by Collins himself.
Maliek Collins Playing Style: What Makes Him Different
He is a classic three-technique tackle. He stands 6 ft 2 in and weighs 310 pounds. Wins with a quick first step. He attacks one gap rather than reading two. His hands are active. Pass-rush grade is much higher than his run-defense grade. His main weakness is availability. Quad, foot, knee, and oblique injuries have each cost him time. When healthy, he is one of the more productive interior rushers in the league.
Maliek Collins Legacy So Far
His career has two chapters. First, a Cowboys third-round pick who produced early. Second, a veteran who was written off twice and kept coming back. The Cowboys let him leave. The 49ers cut him. Each time, he landed a better contract. He is now a trusted piece of a top Cleveland defense. At 31, the next two seasons will decide how long that run lasts.
Check Also: Geno Smith | Puka Nacua | Bijan Robinson | Myles Garrett | Sam Darnold | Jaxson Dart | Jalen Hurts
Frequently Asked Questions
Collins is 31 as of October 2026. He turns 32 on 8 April 2027.
He plays defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns.
He wears number 96 for the Browns.
He is 6 ft 2 in and weighs 310 pounds.
It is a two-year, $30 million extension with $23 million guaranteed.
He had a quad injury in December 2025. He returned on 24 August 2026.
He has about 3.5 sacks through seven games.
Pro Football Reference lists 40.5 sacks in 155 games.
He played at Nebraska. Dallas drafted him in the third round in 2016.
No official figure exists. His reported contracts add up to well into eight figures.
