The 49ers will release defensive tackle Maliek Collins according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Collins was acquired by trade last year and did start 17 games for the 49ers, but the $10 million salary may have made him expendable as the 49ers currently have the 3rd highest cash payroll in the NFL.

It is possible that Collins will be a post June 1 release for salary cap purposes. As a straight release Collins will count for $5.432 million in dead money which would be a loss of $670,000 in cap room. As a post June 1 release they can open up $3.4 million this year and defer $3.4 million in dead money to 2026.