Do you: Cardinals’ Darius Robinson getting helping hand from fellow 1st-rounder

TEMPE — The life of an NFL first-round pick comes with plenty of expectations and publicity.

It also comes with a heaping scoop of pressure, especially when things don’t quite go as planned.

That’s about the best way to classify defensive lineman Darius Robinson’s year up to this point.

Cardinals fans are champing at the bit to see the No. 27 overall pick make his NFL debut — which could come as soon as this weekend against the Minnesota Vikings — after fighting his way through a calf injury on top of dealing with the passing of his mother mid-rehab.

Make that five straight practices for Arizona Cardinals rookie DL Darius Robinson.

Another positive step toward getting the green light this Sunday. pic.twitter.com/xIWgDymwLn

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) November 27, 2024

The anxiety and questions continue to grow every week he’s not in the lineup. Just how much will Robinson play in Year 1? Is he ready mentally?

For Robinson, it’s been about sticking with the process. But even the most tuned-out players can hear the outside noise at times.

That’s why having a guy like 2021 first-round pick Zaven Collins in his corner can truly be a difference maker.

“People are going to put an expectation on you. You just gotta go out and do you,” Collins said Monday. “Whatever it is, you just gotta go out and keep trying every day. Come to work with your hard hat on. There are certain situations that you can’t control.

“What he’s dealing with is a mental struggle. It’s hard, because he wants to get out there, play with us and help the team. I get to talk with him and work with him and tell him, ‘You just gotta work on you and just keep doing you. There’s plenty of games left for you to come back and do everything you wanted to do. There’s nothing that’s going to stop you from that.'”

Different situation, same type of pressure

Collins knows a thing or two when it comes to handling pressure and outside noise.

Let’s take it back to 2021, shall we?

Fresh off being the No. 16 overall pick, Collins was thrust into the limelight after general manager Steve Keim’s way-too-early proclamation that the rookie would be Arizona’s starting MIKE backer.

But to do so, that meant usurping veteran Jordan Hicks, who had been a consistent presence in the middle of defenses up to that point.

That thinking didn’t come to fruition in Year 1, with Hicks regaining his starting role and Collins appearing in just 20% of available defensive snaps (220).

That’s where former Cardinal J.J. Watt and his mentorship come in.

In the twilight of his career, the future Hall of Famer took the young linebacker under his wing almost immediately.

That connection and the confidence it brought with it played a part in Collins eventually becoming the starter that was promised behind 98% of defensive snaps (1,024) and 100 tackles in 2022.

“I go back — this is weird — and I’m not saying I’m on his level, but J.J. would tell me stuff to do like how to think on certain things,” Collins said Monday. “I just try to think of what he would tell me.

“I’m nowhere near him but giving advice and how to see certain things or work on certain things, so it’s nice. He’s always wanting to learn, so that’s a good thing.”

Collins’ career twists didn’t stop there, though, with the new regime moving him to pass rusher upon its arrival to Arizona.

The linebacker handled the transition with grace, eventually earning a starting role and a two-year contract extension at the new position.

Watt’s influence paired with Collins’ work ethic and versatility were huge in that regard.

Now, Collins is using what he picked up from Watt and paying it forward with Robinson.

“Zaven, he’s like my big brother… well, he’s like my cousin, because we’re like the same age.”

Cardinals DL Darius Robinson is learning a lot from veteran pass rusher Zaven Collins as the rookie preps for his NFL debut.

“Really thankful for Zaven.” pic.twitter.com/gLGqmlGPEi

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) November 27, 2024

“Just taking it one day at a time and find something to get better at,” Robinson said when asked about the best advice the veteran has given him.

“He’s a great role model for me. Today, we had some things go down on the field and it was kinda like we knew each other very well from fall camp to now. There’s a lot of great vets. I’m just trying to learn each and every day.”

Big brother? More like cousin

As for the biggest difference between the Watt-Collins and Collins-Robinson pairings?

The age gap.

“Zaven is like my big brother — well, he’s like my cousin because we’re like the same age,” Robinson said with a smile.

“I’m two years older than him. J.J. was like seven years older than me. Let’s not forget I’m only 25,” Collins jokingly added. “J.J. was like 30 or whatever. He calls me big bro and then he’s like, ‘Damn, Zaven, you’re only 25! You’re not a big bro, you’re my age.'”

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