The arrival of Monti Ossenfort as Cardinals general manager meant that, inevitably, roster changes would happen.
But even after Ossenfort declined the fifth-year option for linebacker Zaven Collins, he emphasized how much he liked Collins. Then Ossenfort backed it up by signing Collins to a two-year contract extension on Saturday, keeping Collins in Arizona through the 2026 season.
"I'm a small-town dude," Collin said. "I've been like that since Day One. Know what I mean? Grew up with no stop lights, when I go back, there are still no stop lights. You can't really change, and I don't think I have changed at all.
"I'm the same guy. And I think they like that guy."
It comes as some good news on the same day it was learned fellow outside linebacker BJ Ojulari is out for the season with a knee injury.
Collins was the team's 2021 first-round pick. The team could've exercised the option in May but did not. Collins was matter-of-fact at the time -- and reiterated again Saturday -- that Ossenfort was straight with him that the Cards were not going to use it and for that, Collins was appreciative. He was present for all voluntary work in the offseason as well.
"Even though it wasn't picked up, you still want to be there (for the team)," Collins said. "That's something you don't want to miss out on."
Collins got a phone call from his agent as training camp got underway that there was an initial contract offer for an extension. The two sides worked on it until the deal finally was done, coincidentally as Ojulari's news was going public.
ESPN reported the extension was worth up to $14 million, with $11.25M guaranteed. Collins' fifth-year option for 2025, had it been invoked, would have been worth about $13M.
Collins played inside linebacker his first two seasons before coach Jonathan Gannon moved him to outside last season. Last season he had 3.5 sacks as well as impressing playing in coverage for the new defensive scheme. He also had six tackles for loss among his 41 total tackles in a rotational system for the position.
"He's a big part of what we want to do on defense, this year and moving forward," coach Jonathan Gannon said. "They've been working on that for a while and I'm glad they got that done now."
Collins led all Cardinals outside linebackers in playing time percentage at 58 percent of the defensive snaps. Gannon said Collins has some "flexibility and some versatility that we need to apply." Collins said he played five different positions last season, extending beyond his listed edge spot.
"Love Zaven, love where he's at, love what he brings for our defense and hopefully (we) keep him around here for a long time," Ossenfort said in April.
The small-town dude had no desire to do anything else. Testing the free-agent market wasn't his goal.
"I've been here for the last four years, I've seen the culture shift in many ways and I see the culture (trending up) so you stay with it," Collins said. "And you want to stay with it. Especially everything you've worked to build here, why would you want to bail out now?"
