The Arizona Cardinals are hoping that last year’s first-round draft pick, linebacker Zaven Collins can be a prominent part of their defense in 2022. Drafted to become the team’s defensive quarterback and the one calling plays at inside linebacker, after a rocky rookie season, he is unsure what exactly his role will be in 2022.
“We’re doing all kinds of stuff,” he said when he spoke to reporters after the team’s final practice of OTAs on Thursday. “I could be the man in the middle. I could be somewhere in the middle but maybe not calling it. We don’t know what that is yet, so we’ll take that into training camp.”
Collins had a prominent role in the defense early in his rookie season and had some success before his playing time began to disappear in the second half of the season. He got a little work as an edge defender at outside linebacker when injuries hit the team and they did not have enough bodies.
