Latest news with #BJ_Ojulari
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
LB Zaven Collins named layer the Arizona Cardinals should trade
At this time of year, when we look at NFL rosters, some positions on some teams look like they have players who will need a change of scenery, for one reason or another. For example, the Arizona Cardinals completely retooled their defensive line and their edge defender rooms. That could leave a contributor from a previous season with a lesser role. Advertisement Sometimes, they don't fit as well. Other times, it is a case of a contract. Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport named a player on each roster who should be traded. For the Cardinals, it is outside linebacker Zaven Collins. Back in 2021, the Arizona Cardinals made edge-rusher Zaven Collins the 16th overall pick in the NFL draft. But Collins didn't actually start his professional career as an edge-rusher—the 6'5' 260-pounder spent the first two seasons of his career as an off-ball linebacker before kicking outside in 2023. The results have been disappointing. Collins has shown some flashes, but he just hasn't been able to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Last year's five sacks marked a career high, but with Josh Sweat now in the desert, Baron Browning back after joining the Cardinals in-season last year and BJ Ojulari returning from injury, Collins could find himself toward the back end of the pass-rushing rotation in Arizona. Collins signed a two-year, $14 million extension last fall, so his salary is hardly cost-prohibitive. There could be a team out there that believes it can do a better job of unlocking Collins' talent than the Cardinals have. And a change of scenery could be the best thing for the 26-year-old. As noted, the Cardinals spent big money on Sweat. They gave Browning almost the same deal that Collins has and Ojulari is coming back. Plus, they drafted Jordan Burch in the third round. Will Collins still get playing time? Well, we have to remember that the coaches on Arizona's staff love Collins. And while some might be disappointed in his sack totals, he did lead the team with five last season. And getting sacks aren't his greatest skill. Advertisement However, he is a very good player at all the other things an edge rusher should do. He sets the edge and plays the run extremely well. He moves in coverage well. He can kick inside. He works hard. We can expect him to probably be the base-down starter with Sweat. Would a change of scenery work for him? Perhaps, but he is in the final year of his contract. That will likely happen next offseason. Trading him now without knowing what the other players will be like, especially when the team knows that, in a moment, the best laid plans can be ruined by injuries (Ojulari last season, followed by Dennis Gardeck's torn ACL in the season). The Cardinals might make trades before the season, but don't expect Collins to be one of those guys. Advertisement Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: NFL trade rumors: Zaven Collins named player Cardinals should move
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arizona Cardinals newcomer cracks top edge defender list entering 2025
The Arizona Cardinals made a concerted effort to improve the defensive interior and the defensive edge. They need to stop the run better and to create a consistent pass rush. They have done that and one of their biggest offseason additions was signing pass rusher Josh Sweat in free agency to a four-year, $76.4 million deal. Advertisement Sweat is ranked in the top 32 edfe defenders in the NFL, according to PFF. He comes in at No. 25. Sweat capped off a stellar seven-year run with the Eagles by recording 2.5 sacks in the Super Bowl, then signed with the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent in March. He showed improvement against the run in 2024, earning a 67.8 grade after posting a career-low 54.2 in 2023. The Cardinals also have 2023 second-round pick BJ Ojulari, a player the Cardinals were counting on to be their top pass rusher entering last season before his tore his ACL in training camp. They re-signed Baron Browning and still have Zaven Collins, although Collins excels at every other part of being an edge defender other than getting a lot of sacks. In an ideal world, Sweat will not only play well enough to land on this list again in 2026, but someone else will also crack the top 32. Could that be Browning or Ojulari? What about Collins in his third year playing the edge? Advertisement That's the hope, at least. With an improved defensive front across the interior and the edge, there is at least a reasonable chance. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals newcomer cracks top edge defender list entering 2025
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arizona Cardinals had major defensive improvements in 2024 despite challenges
The Arizona Cardinals have made a concerted effort this offseason to improve their defense, adding starting talent and depth on the defensive line, the defensive edge and linebacker in free agency and then addressing every defensive position in the NFL draft. But that roster improvement comes after they made marked improvements from 2023 to 2024 defensively. Advertisement BetMGM's Nick Hennion noted that the Cardinals "moved from 32nd in defensive DVOA in 2023 to 14th in 2024" and that the improvement was impressive for a number of reasons. They played the third-hardest schedule of opposing offenses in 2024 after playing the hardest schedule in 2023. They lost 72.9 adjusted games to injury on defense, the fourth-highest total in the league. They lost BJ Ojulari, Dennis Gardeck, Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols to season-ending injuries. They were 15th in scoring defense last season but 21st in yards allowed. They were 14th in passing defense and 20th in run defense. However, they had an interesting dichotomy of metrics. They were sixth in the league in the percentage of opposing offensive drives ending in scores, but they were dead last in plays allowed per drive and second-to-last in time allowed per drive. If they improved that much with a roster that is markedly worse than the current one, imagine what this year's defense might be when they have an easier schedule. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals made surprising defensive improvements in 2024
