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WI Sports Heroics
ESPN analyst names Cardinals linebacker as Green Bay Packers budget trade target
- Story byWI Sports Heroics
- ESPN analyst names Cardinals linebacker as Green Bay Packers budget trade target
The Green Bay Packers have until November 10 to decide whether to strengthen their roster before the NFL trade deadline. With the team firmly in the NFC playoff race, adding the right piece could improve its chances of making a deeper run. Although blockbuster acquisitions often grab the headlines, a less publicized move could prove just as valuable for Green Bay.
ESPN NFL analyst Bill Barnwell recently outlined two potential trade options for teams looking to strengthen their rosters, identifying one high-end acquisition and another more affordable target. For Green Bay, he pointed to Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Zaven Collins as a budget-friendly option who could provide useful contributions to the Packers' defense.
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Zaven Collins fit with the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, left, talks with defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon during the fourth quarter of their preseason game Friday, August 28, 2026 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Green Bay Packers beat the Cardinals 42-38.
"There has been a lot of chatter around Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat, but a more realistic trade option might be Zaven Collins, who is a free agent after the season. Originally drafted as a linebacker, Collins has settled in as a rotational player on the edge for Arizona, where his athleticism and bend have played up over the past few years. He's just 27 years old, and his ability to rotate in and get pressure could appeal to a Packers team that will want to ease Parsons into the lineup," the NFL insider wrote.
Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon talks with head coach Matt LaFleur during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026, at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin.Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Arizona selected Collins with the 16th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he has yet to meet the expectations that came with being a first-rounder. Still, as Barnwell pointed out, Collins has adapted his game and established himself as a dependable contributor for the Cardinals.
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When Jonathan Gannon was coach in 2023, Collins took on a different assignment, moving from the inside linebacker spot to the edge of Arizona's defense. The adjustment has allowed him to make a greater impact as a pass rusher, producing 11 sacks in a rotational capacity. His career numbers also include 286 tackles, 14 sacks, four forced fumbles, two interceptions and 15 passes defended over six seasons in the league.
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Oct 29, 2026; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) during the game against the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
