ZC #25

Zaven Collins

Linebacker · Tulsa

Former Tulsa unanimous All-American and first-round pick who swept the major college defensive awards in 2020.

Zaven Collins arrived in Arizona as the 16th overall pick in 2021 after a decorated career at Tulsa, and he has remained a fixture of the Cardinals' front seven ever since, signing a two-year extension in 2024 that runs through 2026.

★ 2020 Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner

★ 2020 Chuck Bednarik Award winner

★ 2020 Lombardi Award winner

★ 2020 unanimous All-American (Tulsa)

★ First-round pick, 2021 NFL Draft (16th overall)

Path to the league

Collins was a three-year starter at Tulsa, racking up 235 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and five interceptions over 32 games. In 2020 he swept national defensive honors, winning the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and Lombardi Award as a unanimous All-American. Arizona selected him with the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Career highlights

Collins has been a full-time starter for the Cardinals since entering the league, playing all or nearly all 17 games in most seasons. His best statistical season came in 2024, when he posted a career-high 5.0 sacks. Arizona signed him to a two-year extension in August 2024 to keep him through 2026.

2025 season recap

Collins played all 17 games in 2025 but had a down year by his standards, recording 40 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He worked in a rotational role for the first seven games before starting nine of the final ten.