2021 NFL Draft: 49ers bulk up secondary in full Round 1 mock
By Peter Panacy
New Orleans Saints. Zaven Collins. 28. player. 15. . EDGE
2021 NFL Draft: Saints select EDGE Zaven Collins, Tulsa
One could chalk the New Orleans Saints up to being another team in the hunt for a quarterback. But if head coach Sean Payton has made anything clear, he’s infatuated with offensive uber-weapon Taysom Hill, and it’s likely both Hill and backup quarterback Jameis Winston, assuming he re-signs, wind up being the signal-calling duo in New Orleans this season following the inevitable retirement of future Hall of Famer Drew Brees.
The Saints have plenty of salary-cap issues, though, and it’s likely some of those repercussions fall on the defensive side of the ball. Getting some added thump off the outside in the pass-rush department would help.
While he’s a bit of a tweener from a linebacker/defensive end standpoint, Tulsa’s Zaven Collins has a mix of off-ball skills, blitz potential and matching up against pass protectors with a good array of pass-rushing moves.
He won’t wow in the sack department. But Collins is awfully good in creating pressure and can regularly get into the backfield.