Zaven
Collins.
Zaven
Collins.
Tulsa· 6'4"· 259 lb· 4.67s 40
"The Tulsa tape says three incompatible things at once: MIKE linebacker, stand-up edge, and hybrid off-ball chess piece. Whoever picks him is drafting a position they still have to define."Pre-draft read
This off-ball linebacker aligns primarily as a MIKE, displaying pre-snap processing and high football IQ. In zone, he leverages his size and vision to disrupt passing lanes. As a blitzer, he exploits B-gap opportunities and executes delayed rushes. He demonstrates functional athleticism for his frame, allowing him to win with physical attributes in space.
His movement is characterized by solid linear speed but less fluid lateral change-of-direction. While effective as a blitzer and in specific zone assignments, his reaction to play-action can be a structural weakness. He engages in take-on-and-shed techniques against interior linemen, where his performance is functional but not dominant. His hand activity and overall size found more consistent utility when deployed as an edge rusher.
Versatile 3-4 front designed to create mismatches and utilize player-specific strengths, emphasizing disruption and controlled chaos over rigid assignments.
Immediate starter as a SAM backer or versatile sub-package edge rusher who can develop into a high-level, disruptive defender with elite blitzing and zone coverage ability.
A traditional 4-3 Cover 2 defense that relies on linebackers with elite sideline-to-sideline range and quick lateral agility in coverage.
Collins's unique size-athleticism profile and diagnostic skills make him a high-upside fit in a complex, multiple-front scheme that wants to leverage his versatility and blitzing ability over pure coverage.
From 0 FBS OFFERS to the BEST defensive player in the NATION — Zaven Collins rise
Zaven Collins Tulsa Pro Day Highlights — 2021 NFL Draft
Swiss Army Knife — 2021 NFL Draft Zaven Collins (Tulsa) Film Study
This linebacker prospect projects as a versatile front-seven player, capable of impacting the game as an off-ball run defender, zone coverage player, and sub-package blitzer. His combination of size and athletic testing, highlighted by a 4.67 forty at 259 pounds, positioned him as a rare physical archetype with Day 1 upside.
Coming out of Tulsa, he demonstrated significant production in his senior season, tallying 54 tackles, 4 sacks, and 4 interceptions, including two pick-sixes. This performance, which earned him the Bednarik and Nagurski Awards, showcased his ball-hawking ability and impact on defense. He proved capable of handling a heavy workload and adapting to various roles within the Tulsa scheme.
Evaluator consensus grappled with his optimal positional fit, debating between a pure off-ball linebacker, a strong-side linebacker, or even a sub-package edge rusher, especially given the level of competition he faced in the American Athletic Conference. Despite some concerns about reaction time to play-action, his rare athleticism for his size made him a top-20 prospect, ultimately leading to his selection at pick 16.
- 01
Elite athleticism
He combines 6-foot-4, 259-pound frame with a 4.67 forty time, placing him in the top percentile.
- 02
Exceptional production
In his senior season, he recorded 4 interceptions, including two pick-sixes.
- 03
Natural zone instincts
He displays natural coverage instincts and route recognition in zone, showcasing a refined profile.
- 04
Strong football character
He shows diligent film study, a commendable work ethic, and demonstrated leadership.
- 05
Positional versatility
He projects across multiple roles including MIKE, SAM, and stand-up edge.
- 01
AAC competition level
Level of competition faced in the American Athletic Conference limits exposure against top-tier offenses.
- 02
Inconsistent range
Functional rather than elite sideline-to-sideline range could limit effectiveness in modern zone-heavy schemes.
- 03
Takes on blocks
He shows inconsistent stack-and-shed technique against pulling guards and center-lead schemes.
- 04
Limited sample size
One-year workhorse tape from 2020 served as the primary basis for his high draft grade.
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
- 4.67sp50
- Vertical
- 35inp50
- Broad jump
- 122inp50
- Three-cone
- —s
- Shuttle
- 4.36sp50
- Bench
- 19repp50
| Yr | Team | G | Tkl | Sk | Int | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Tulsa | 12 | 85 | 1.5 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | Tulsa | 12 | 97 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 | Tulsa | 8 | 54 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Career | — | 32 | 236 | 7.5 | 5 | 8 | 0 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Multi-role linebacker whose value is highest in a defense that uses him as a coverage, blitz and edge-adjacent chess piece.
Oversized second-level defender with coverage range, pressure value and enough versatility to tilt a defensive call sheet.
Tweener profile that can become role-dependent if the downhill instincts and block deconstruction do not catch up.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
2021 (rookie, ARI): 175 total snaps, didn't play regularly. 2022 (ARI): 862 snaps as MIKE within the defensive system — coverage disaster, 45 PFF grade. 2023 (ARI): full-time edge conversion with a new defensive approach — 3.5 sacks, 9 QB hits, 8 TFL. 2024 (ARI): 5 sacks, 39 QB pressures, 68 PFF grade — the right position at last. March 2025: signed GB 1-year/$6M prove-it, sub-package edge behind Parsons. 2025 (GB): rotational role, 3 sacks at midseason. Career_av: 12.
Collins is the hardest position-identity evaluation of the 2021 class because the Tulsa tape says three incompatible things at once. One: he's a dominant off-ball LB who won the Bednarik and the Nagurski with 54 tackles, 7 TFL, 4 sacks and 4 INTs, including two pick-sixes in the same game against SMU. Two: he measures 6'4"/259 lbs — bigger than most edges in the class, bigger than Micah Parsons. Three: he ran a 4.67 forty with a 4.35 shuttle at that weight, a 9.83 RAS no LB his size had produced before in combine/pro-day history. The development story is so good it almost distorts the evaluation: zero FBS offers out of Hominy, Oklahoma (population 3,500), Tulsa grabbed him as an afterthought and converted him from QB to LB. Three years later he was the best defender in the sport.
The bear case is double. First, American Conference competition level: production against Tulane and Navy is dominant, but the tape against Oklahoma State and Ohio State (the Fiesta Bowl) shows an LB late to the gap and over-pursuing. Second, reaction to play-action: eyes climb before feet, and NFL veteran QBs turn that into throw windows.
The likely comp was always Deone Bucannon: hybrid safety/LB with exceptional range who in the NFL never found a clean position and ended up an average starter. The high is Anthony Barr — uniquely-sized athletic LB who made 4 Pro Bowls in Minnesota. The low is Rolando McClain: the version where he never anchors at a position and ends up a rotational backup.
The post-draft arc leaned firmly toward the low for two cycles and then to the likely thanks to a scheme change. As a 2021 rookie in Arizona's defensive system, he didn't play regularly, 175 total snaps. In 2022 the system was similar and he was given 800+ MIKE snaps — coverage disaster, 45 PFF grade. In 2023 with a new defensive philosophy introduced, he converted him to edge full-time and the switch saved his career: 3.5 sacks, 9 QB hits in his first edge year. In 2024 same setup: 5 sacks in 15 games, 68 PFF grade. Free agent in 2025, signed with GB in March on a 1-year prove-it at $6M to play sub-package edge behind Micah Parsons. The right position arrived two years late; the player still has a starter ceiling as a sub-package edge.