Why the Browns May Already Be Regretting Their Biggest 2025 Free Agent Signing
The Browns’ decision to sign veteran defensive tackle Maliek Collins to a two-year, $23 million deal this offseason is already backfiring. At the time, the move appeared to fill the void left by Dalvin Tomlinson, who was released back in March. However, Cleveland may have overestimated his necessity in a room suddenly crowded with emerging talent. Given the Browns’ recent emphasis on youth and long-term development, the sizable investment in Collins, who turns 30 this offseason, could quickly become a misstep. Despite his reliability as a pass-rusher and interior presence, his price tag becomes difficult to justify with multiple younger, cheaper, and potentially higher-upside players now in the fold.
One such player is Mason Graham, selected fifth overall by the Browns in the 2025 NFL Draft. Rarely is such premier draft capital used on an interior defensive lineman, implying plans to immediately utilize Graham in 2025. This is particularly true considering that a playoff berth is an unlikely outcome for the Browns this season, increasing the urgency to divert playing time toward young, up-and-coming talent. Presently, Maliek Collins simply stands in the way of a young man who Cleveland clearly believes has extremely high upside given his draft position. As the season wears on, Mason Graham’s development could quickly eat into Collins’ playing time, making it harder to justify the nearly $12 million annual average salary the veteran commands.
Joining Graham is Mike Hall Jr., the Browns’ top draft selection in the 2024 draft. Hall flashed his dynamic pass-rushing skill set late last season and appears poised to tackle starting reps in his sophomore campaign. As is too the case with Graham, the Browns invested starter-level capital in Hall and owe it to themselves, particularly in a rebuilding year, to ascertain whether he can give them bang for their buck. With two promising young prospects in the fold at defensive tackle, the position’s future in Cleveland is easy to envision, and it does not include Maliek Collins.
Adding another wrinkle is the late-season emergence of Jowon Briggs, a 2024 day three pick who frequented the practice squad before turning heads down the stretch in 2024, seemingly earning a safe roster spot. As a rotational piece, Briggs showcased strong run-stuffing ability and savvy, providing Cleveland a youthful and affordable rotational option. Though still raw, Briggs has apparently earned the trust of the Browns’ coaching staff and is firmly in the mix for meaningful snaps this fall. With three talented interior linemen on rookie contracts, the Browns now find themselves with a logjam at a position where they invested heavily in free agency, placing Collins in tumultuous waters.
Ultimately, the Browns’ decision to bring in Maliek Collins might prove to be a short-term insurance policy they did not need. While Collins remains a capable veteran presence, there does not appear to be enough snaps for him to justify his contract on the field. Instead, he appears in the way of young talent who stands to benefit more from high snap counts. As the Browns continue threading the needle between getting back to winning and building for their future, expensive veterans without a clear path to consistent playing time serve little role. Maliek Collins is, unfortunately, shaping up to be Exhibit A.
