The Cardinals are locking up Zaven Collins before he enters his fourth NFL season.
Collins signed a two-year, $14 million extension with the Cardinals, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday. Of the $14 million, $11.25 million is guaranteed at signing, Rapoport added.
The team confirmed the two-year extension.
Collins entered the NFL as a first-round pick out of Tulsa, and after a rough first professional season, he started to find his stride in 2022, recording 100 tackles, two sacks, one interception and six passes defensed. After playing over 1,000 snaps in 2022, Collins saw the field for 636 snaps in 2023, posting lower numbers but increasing his sack total while snagging another interception and earning his best Pro Football Focus defensive grade of his career.
As a first-round pick, Arizona had the fifth-year option at its disposal, but declined to exercise it on Collins in the spring, setting him up for a prove-it year in 2024. Thanks to this deal, Collins can feel more secure in his role with the Cardinals while knowing he's under team control through 2026.
For the Cards, they're keeping a young linebacker with potential on the roster at an affordable rate, banking on their belief he'll be worth the money in the future.
