The Arizona Cardinals might be moving linebacker Zaven Collins. Drafted in the first round in 2021 to be the team’s MIKE linebacker, he has been getting work with the outside linebackers.
On Monday, at the Cardinals’ first practice of voluntary OTAs (organized team activities), Collins was practicing with the outside linebackers, which include players like Cameron Thomas and Myjai Sanders.
Zaven Collins working with edge rushers as he was earlier in the #AZCardinals offseason pic.twitter.com/FpoJWza2To
— Craig Grialou (@CraigAZSports) May 22, 2023
The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Collins is built like a lot of pass rushers but mostly played off the ball in college.
This is not the first time he has worked with this position group.
Collins is still listed as an inside linebacker on the roster, but head coach Jonathan Gannon said earlier in the offseason he wants Collins to have some versatility.
Having him play more outside linebacker might be a way to keep him on the field more with Kyzir White and Isaiah Simmons potentially playing the two inside linebacker spots.
It will be something to watch over the next two weeks of OTAs and then the week of minicamp. And if training camp rolls around and he is still rushing off the edge, we will know what his primary role might be in 2023.
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