The Arizona Cardinals have a big decision looming with LB Zaven Collins.
We're less than two months away from the May 2 fifth-year option deadline for the 2021 NFL Draft class, which will see Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort either exercise or decline Collins' extra year.
Should Arizona decline - similar to what they did with Isaiah Simmons last offseason - Collins will play out 2024 and become a free agent after. The Cardinals could also opt to pay Collins $13.2 million for an extra year and keep him around through 2025.
In their recent article going through each first-round pick and deciding their fate, Pro Football Focus projects Arizona will decline the option.
"Collins showed some flashes this past season in his transition to more of an edge rusher role as opposed to off-ball linebacker, but not enough to justify exercising this option. Perhaps with another full offseason of dedicating himself to his new position, Collins will end up happy that the option isn't exercised and he can hit the market a year sooner," wrote Brad Spielberger.
When asked at the NFL Combine about Collins, Ossenfort offered this:
"I thought Zaven had a good year," Ossenfort said.
"We went through a transition year positionally. I thought Zaven made great strides. He played a lot of snaps for us. With him, like all players, we expect to see a jump from year one to year two, with his comfort level and getting used to the position."
Collins' four sacks tied for 77th in the league according to Pro Football Focus, though his 72.1 overall defensive grade leads all returning players on Arizona's defensive side of the ball. His 73.9 run support grade was 21st among all edge defenders last season.
ESPN's Josh Weinfuss says Collins' fifth-year salary could jump to near $20 million if Collins earns Pro Bowl honors this upcoming season.
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