Zaven Collins ticked off the different positions he plays inside the defense of coordinator Nick Rallis.
Tackle. End, both sides. Off-ball linebacker at times. He might even find himself in the slot from time to time.
"I still do a lot of crazy stuff," Collins said.
Technically, Collins is an outside linebacker, but when he calls himself a "chess piece" (Jonathan Gannon does too for that matter) it's closer to the mark. Collins says he plays four or five positions, although according to TruMedia he played 14 different spots last season of at least one snap. (The bulk of his work, 58 percent of his snaps, came at weakside outside linebacker.)
"With that comes a lot of, 'Damn Nick, that's going to be kind of tough' and he just smiles and looks at me," Collins said.
Rallis smiles again when he's told of the comment.
"I'm looking at this guy and he's one of the most intelligent guys in the room," Rallis said. "He's 6-5, 270-some pounds and runs 4.5. I'm like, 'What do you mean you can't do it?'
"I do put a lot on Zaven's plate and a handful of other guys due to a combination of intelligence and skillset. Zaven says that, but he's down for anything."
The 2021 first-round pick was originally playing as an inside linebacker until Rallis and Gannon decided to move him to outside linebacker two seasons ago. But it's been so much more than just lining up outside.
Collins hasn't had the prototypical stats of an edge rusher in a 3-4 defense, with 3½ in 2023 and 5 last season. But his value was underscored last year when the Cardinals gave him a contract extension at this time last year, and even with the additions of Josh Sweat and Baron Browning, Collins remains a core starter.
"We utilize him in different roles because he's super-smart and he has this unique unicorn skillset for being as big as he is, how he can move and his understanding of the game," Gannon said. "I think he's going to take off."
Gannon does want Collins to think less on the field, something he and previous coach Kliff Kingsbury have said. Collins acknowledged he has had a "bad problem" holding on to his mistakes, which in turn would impact his play.
He believes he is in a better place now. Whatever duties he might have, his top goal is still to rush the passer better and get more sacks and pressures.
Yet Collins knows he's still going to be the chess piece.
He doesn't want to overstate it. His former teammate, Isaiah Simmons, was asked to do multiple things from a rush linebacker/defensive back coverage angle, and that's much harder to pull off. Collins said all of his movement mostly comes in the box.
There are moments of crazy though, like when the Cardinals were in a Tampa 2 look for their game against the Dolphins in Miami and he found himself across from Tyreek Hill coming from the slot and who went "screaming up the field."
"It's like, 'Oh, yeah. Got to get out early,'" Collins said with a grin. "As a rookie, I probably would've waited until the ball was snapped. I'm not waiting until the ball is snapped. Guy runs a 4.2, 4.3. You learn as you go on.
"I don't even argue (about the assignments). It's fun to do. Scheme things up."
Take a look at the best images from Week 3 of the 2025 Arizona Cardinals Training Camp at State Farm Stadium, presented by Desert Financial
Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Travis Vokolek (81) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jaylon Jones (37) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (33) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) and Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter (22) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell (93) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt (72) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
The Arizona Cardinals during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darius Robinson (56) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Vi Jones (53) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals running back DeeJay Dallas (20) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat (10) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (33) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Tip Reiman (87) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Trishton Jackson (86) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins (25) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Sincere Haynesworth (61) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
The Arizona Cardinals during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (4) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Vi Jones (53) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (33) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Xavier Thomas (54) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch (4) during 2025 Training Camp on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Nate McCollum (39) and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jaylon Jones (37) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Elijah Higgins (84) and Arizona Cardinals cornerback Steven Gilmore (38) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Josh Sweat (10) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Oscar Cardenas (45) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) and Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Zay Jones (17) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals Assistant Offensive Line Coach Chris Cook during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
The Arizona Cardinals during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Elijah Higgins (84) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darius Robinson (56) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Travis Vokolek (81) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune (15) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Fans during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland (38) and Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. (70) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins (25) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Elijah Jones (28) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2), Arizona Cardinals linebacker Owen Pappoe (44) and Arizona Cardinals Linebackers Coach Cristian Garcia during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darius Robinson (56) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Benton Whitley (49) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell (93) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum (68) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) during 2025 Training Camp on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025 at State Farm Stadium.
