Zaven Collins

The Arizona Cardinals are signing LB Zaven Collins to a two-year contract extension worth up to $14 million ($11.25M guaranteed).

Fantasy Impact

Collins converted from an inside linebacker to an outside linebacker/edge rusher. In 2022 he spent 785 of his 1,025 defensive snaps in the box and registered a PFF defensive grade of 59.8; in 2023, he spent 569 of his 636 snaps on the defensive line with a grade of 72.1. His sudden increase in play likely was a key factor in inking the extension despite getting his fifth-year option declined. He has two additional years to prove that his improved play is here to stay rather than becoming a free agent in 2025.

The Cardinals declined the fifth-year option on Zaven Collins.

Fantasy Impact

Collins will enter this season on a prove-it deal with Arizona, and it's now a new coaching scheme under coach Jonathan Gannon.

According to team reporter Darren Urban, Arizona Cardinals third-year LB Zaven Collins is being moved from inside to outside, getting reps as an edge rusher in the team's new defense.

Fantasy Impact

Nick Rallis, the Cardinals' new defensive coordinator, comes from Philadelphia and sees Collins' size as having potential on the outside. In college, Collins was primarily an interior linebacker. Though he had experience as a pass rusher, it was typically as a blitzer. Collins only played about 18% of his snaps on the edge in 2022, though Urban says that, due to injuries and youth, Collins could be an immediate starter outside in 2023.

The Arizona Cardinals have selected Zaven Collins with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Fantasy Impact

At linebacker, the Cardinals have Isaiah Simmons but also an aging veteran in Chandler Jones, and Collins gives them another chess piece for an evolving defense.