Getty Linebacker Zaven Collins #25 of the Arizona Cardinals participates in an off-season workout at Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center.
Arizona Cardinals rookie linebacker Zaven Collins was arrested in Scottsdale over the weekend.
Scottsdale Police confirmed they arrested the 22-year-old on charges of excessive speed and reckless driving. Per TMZ, Scottsdale police said Collins was driving in a Mercedes when they pulled him over around 10:04 a.m. on Sunday, June 20, after they allege he was speeding 76 miles per hour in a 35 miles-per-hour zone.
“A traffic stop was conducted, and Mr. Collins was placed under arrest for the violations,” the police wrote in a press release.
Scottsdale Police DepartmentZaven Collins’ June 20 mug shot.
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Arizona Has High Hopes for Collins
Collins, 22, was selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft and signed his rookie contract, a four-year deal in excess of $14 million, on June 8.
“It’s special,” Collins said, per the team’s website. “You know it’s coming, but until it’s here, you don’t know how you’re going to feel. It’s still a big milestone.”
An athletic marvel and a dominant force at Tulsa, Collins earned unanimous All-American honors this past season after posting 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and four interceptions. Despite being listed at 6-foot-4-inches and 260 pounds, the Cardinals plan on deploying Collins as an insider backer as a rookie, lining him up next to fellow hybrid playmaker Isaiah Simmons — their 2020 first-round pick.
“They’ll win the prettiest linebacker duo award when they line up side-by-side,” head coach Kliff Kingsbury said of the duo, via the team’s website. “Those are two big, long, athletic cats.”
You know that kid who was just too big to be that fast?
Yeah… We’ve got two of them.
Collins on Handling Pressure
With Collins slated to slide into the starting Mike backer spot, last year’s starter Jordan Hicks has been deemed expendable by the team. They’ve granted their reigning tackle-leader permission to seek a trade, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The team clearly has high expectations of their rookie defender. Collins admitted to reporters that such lofty projections certainly come with “a lot of pressure.” With that said, he knows he has no other choice but to be ready when his number’s called come Week 1.
“I am, but there’s no choice,” Collins said. “Whether you’re ready or not, you’ve got to be there. They expect a lot of me here, and I put a lot into it. I do what is asked of me and I try to do the best I can. That’s something I work toward every day — knowing the defense, being able to call the defense, being able to get everyone in the right position and know how this thing works.”
Obviously, Collins’ arrest isn’t a great look for the rookie. With that said, as long as the incident is isolated and more damning details don’t arise, chances are this isn’t going to alter the long-term opinion the franchise has on their first-rounder.
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