With the 16th pick in the 2021 NFL draft, the Arizona Cardinals select Zaven Collins, linebacker, Tulsa.
Analysis: My advice for NFL teams is simple: Draft him and get out of his way. Collins might be more of a traditional linebacker than Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, but he still offers some flexibility in terms of scheme and usage. He can play in the more stack linebacker role, but you can put him down on the edge, he is athletic enough to play in space, and you can use him to matchup against tight ends in the passing game. Smart defensive coaches are going to see what he offers and find a home for him right out of the gate.
Grade: C. This is the second straight season the Cardinals have selected a “positionless” linebacker in the first round, and it took them quite a while to figure out what to do with Isaiah Simmons. Perhaps Arizona’s defensive staff learned from that exercise, and Collins is a very interesting player, but it’s reasonable to question the pick at 16th overall.
