Over the past two seasons, the Cardinals and general manager Monti Ossenfort in particular have done a solid job of stacking talent on the front seven. Signing Josh Sweat to a four-year, $76 million contract while also using the No. 16 overall pick to bring in Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen III has been well worth it in shaping what has been an up-and-coming unit.
However, with the crowded depth on the defensive line, we tend to forget one former first-round pick who looks to get back to his old ways: that would be Zaven Collins, who is now entering year six with the team but is looking to regain his previous form after a down 2025 season.
Collins, 27, appeared in all 17 of the team’s games last season, but only started in nine of them. He quickly fizzled out of the starting lineup, as younger guys with higher upside turned heads of the previous coaching staff.
A big factor in Collins losing playing time had to do with the decline in sacks, as he only finished with 1.5 in 2025. He finished with five in 2024, but again, that isn’t productive enough for a first-round draft selection.
MORE: Cardinals GM has a funny response when asked about Carson Beck starting immediately
MORE: ESPN predicts when Cardinals fans can expect to see Carson Beck under center
It’s getting to a point where 2026 may be a make-or-break year for Zaven Collins, as he enters the final year of the two-year, $14 million contract he signed before the start of last season.
With more talent in the picture, each in-game rep is earned, and Collins will have to prove it in camp in order to see the field this season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google