Analyzing the Arizona Cardinals 2021 draft class after year one
By Sion Fawkes
Zaven Collins – LB
Steve Keim and Kliff Kingsbury envisioned a young, dynamic duo featuring Zaven Collins lining up alongside Isaiah Simmons. Oh, and of course, Collins’ selection left Jordan Hicks as the odd-man-out, and the Cardinals granted him permission to seek a trade.
Fast-forward to February 2022, where we’re now analyzing the season. Collins played in just 20 percent of the team’s defensive snaps. And while he showed durability by playing in all 17 games this season, he logged just 25 tackles and one tackle behind the line. Of his 25 stops, 13 were solo tackles.
In short, Collins looked like the ultimate draft bust. And for the foreseeable future, expect Hicks to remain in the desert until Collins gets his act straight. If there was one positive, he at least looked good at edge against the Cowboys. So perhaps Collins is just another Haason Reddick? We’ll find out this season if they do bump him outside.