The Arizona Cardinals have added some stability to their outside linebacker room. In the final year of his rookie contract, the Cardinals are giving former first-round pick Zaven Collins a two-year contract extension, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The deal was made official as the team announced Collins signed his contract at State Farm Stadium on Saturday.
The deal is two years for $14 million and includes $11.25 million guaranteed at signing. He is now under contract through the 2026 season.
This comes in the wake of the Cardinals losing second-year outside linebacker BJ Ojulari for the season with a torn ACL he suffered in practice on Friday.
Collins was drafted 16th overall in the 2021 draft and played inside linebacker off the ball for his first two seasons. He was moved to the edge at outside linebacker last season.
He started all 17 games last season and logged 41 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, an interception, a fumble recovery and three pass breakups.
He was due to make $2.67 million in fully guaranteed salary in 2024 and was scheduled to have a $4.67 million salary cap hit. With the new deal, we will see how much these numbers change, as he likely is getting a decent amount of that money up front at signing and his 2024 salary might be reduced as a result.
The team declined the fifth-year option of his rookie contract that would have paid him more than $13 million in 2025.
If the $14 million reported number is accurate, it means there is $11.337 million new money, according to Cards Wire’s Howard Balzer.
Collins was expected to again be a starter at outside linebacker.
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