Cardinals Not Picking Up Zaven Collins' Fifth-Year Option
The Arizona Cardinals have chosen not to pick up defensive end Zaven Collins' fifth-year option, according to general manager Monti Ossenfort. With the move, Collins will be in the final year of his rookie deal in 2024 and will become a free agent next March. It's a surprising move after the 24-year-old former 16th overall pick has recorded 166 tackles (103 solo), 5.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 10 QB hits, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 12 passes defended, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 50 games (39 starts) in his three years in the NFL. Collins isn't exactly on the IDP fantasy radar as a defensive lineman because of his lack of sacks, but he should continue to be a starting edge defender for Arizona in 2024.
Arizona Cardinals defensive end Zaven Collins is an intriguing sleeper in his Week 1 matchup against the Washington Commanders. Collins has not lived up to expectations since being drafted No. 16 overall in 2021. He only played 220 snaps his rookie year and made 100 combined tackles last season while missing 18 in 1,025 snaps. Now he is moving from inside linebacker to edge rusher. He might be a long shot at this point, but he's still only three years removed from being considered a top prospect. Moreover, his Week 1 matchup against the poor Commanders offensive line and quarterback is a good one. Not only did the Commanders lose almost half of their pass-blocking snaps last season, QB Sam Howell held onto the ball for an average of 2.86 seconds. The combination of factors is a recipe for Howell to be under heavy pressure throughout Sunday afternoon.
Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Zaven Collins, who was the No. 16 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, was arrested on Sunday for excessive speed and reckless driving, according to the Scottsdale Police Department. The 22-year-old was observed going 76 mph in a 35-mph zone in Scottsdale, Ariz. Collins signed his fully guaranteed four-year rookie deal with Arizona on June 8 and is expected to start right away in 2021. The All-American from Tulsa is a big and physical presence in the middle of the field. Despite his size, he moves smoothly and is great in zone coverage. Although he shouldn't be considered a sideline-to-sideline linebacker, Collins has excellent closing speed and change-of-direction ability. It's not a great start to his rookie campaign, but Collins should pair nicely with last year's first-rounder, Isaiah Simmons.
The Arizona Cardinals signed first-round linebacker Zaven Collins to his four-year rookie contract on Tuesday, according to a source. Collins was selected 16th overall in this year's draft out of Tulsa. They added to a position of strength, as the Cardinals also have last year's first-rounder Isaiah Simmons, an aging Chandler Jones and Jordan Hicks. Collins will be an interesting chess piece alongside Simmons and Jones. The 22-year-old is a big, physical presence in the middle of a defense, but he is smooth in his movements and has a great understanding of zone coverage. Collins must improve his recognition in the running game, but he has excellent mobility and will surely make this improving Cardinals defense more fearsome.
The Arizona Cardinals selected Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins with the No. 16 overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft on Thursday night. Collins is a chess piece on defense with size, so the Cardinals will have plenty of options between him and linebacker Isaiah Simmons, who was taken in the first round last year. His skill set definitely fits in the NFL, but it'll be a question as to where Collins actually plays, and he might wind up being too big to play linebacker. Collins has a savvy for playing zone coverage and moves smoothly in space in the middle of the field, but he's not a sideline-to-sideline player at the next level. But Collins has plenty of athletic ability and upside as a pass-rusher for Arizona.
