Contract extensions in the middle of the season say a lot about how a front office sees its roster. Teams rarely commit new money in October unless a player has made himself too important to risk losing. When a deal comes together on game day, the message is even clearer. The Browns sent one of those messages on Sunday morning.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported the Browns have signed DT Maliek Collins to a 2-year extension.
“The #Browns and standout DT Maliek Collins have agreed to terms on a 2-year extension for $30M with $23M in total guarantees, agent Drew Rosenhaus tells me and @AdamSchefter.”
The #Browns and standout DT Maliek Collins have agreed to terms on a 2-year extension for $30M with $23M in total guarantees, agent Drew Rosenhaus tells me and @AdamSchefter. pic.twitter.com/rIJIcfP2DF
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 25, 2026
Maliek Collins has earned it. With Mason Graham sidelined for the last 2 games, the veteran defensive tackle has turned in the best stretch of his season, recording a sack in 3 straight games and pushing his total to 3.5.
His production has been important for a defense that ranks 2nd in the NFL with 19 sacks. Collins, Graham and Isaiah McGuire each have at least 3, giving Mike Rutenberg a balanced rush that does not rely on any single player.
The contract terms make sense for both sides. At $15 million per year with $23 million guaranteed, Collins gets security in his 11th NFL season, and the Browns lock up a proven starter without a long-term commitment to a 31-year-old.
Collins has been consistent throughout his career. A 3rd-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2016, he has also played for the Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers. He set a career high with 6.5 sacks in his first season with the Browns in 2025 and recently passed 40 career sacks.
Pairing Collins with Graham long term could give the Browns one of the more productive interior duos in the league. Graham practiced fully Friday and carries no game designation, so the 2 could be back on the field together as soon as Sunday.
Collins also practiced fully Thursday and Friday after being limited earlier in the week with a foot injury. Now, with his future settled, he will try to keep his sack streak going against the Tennessee Titans as the Browns start a 3-game road trip.
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