Ex-TCU defensive standout L.J. Collier returns to the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year deal as the former Horned Frog looks to revive his NFL impact.
Former TCU football standout L.J. Collier is getting another opportunity in the NFL.
The Arizona Cardinals have re-signed the former Horned Frogs defensive lineman to a one-year contract worth $2.5 million, keeping the veteran defender in the desert for another season.
For Collier, the deal represents both stability and another chance to prove he can still be a disruptive force on an NFL defensive front.
For TCU fans, the move is another reminder of the program’s growing footprint in the league.
Collier, who starred at TCU before becoming a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, has carved out a career built on toughness and versatility.
While injuries have slowed his momentum at times, teams continue to value his ability to play along the defensive line and generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
Across 67 career NFL games with 32 starts, Collier has produced 77 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, 21 quarterback hits and seven passes defended. Those numbers do not fully reflect the type of interior disruption he has provided throughout his career, particularly when healthy.
Before arriving in Arizona, Collier spent four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, the team that selected him in the first round. During his time in Seattle, he recorded 40 tackles, three sacks, 13 quarterback hits and five passes defended, often serving as a rotational lineman capable of playing multiple roles along the defensive front.
Arizona took a chance on Collier prior to the 2023 season, hoping he could strengthen its defensive line rotation. Injuries, however, limited his availability. He missed 16 games during his first year with the Cardinals and another 13 contests in 2025, preventing him from building consistent momentum.
Still, the Cardinals clearly see value in bringing him back.
At 30 years old, Collier now enters a pivotal stage of his NFL career. If he can stay healthy, the former TCU Horned Frog defensive star has the experience and skill set to contribute meaningful snaps and help Arizona’s defensive front.
For Collier, the mission is simple ... stay on the field, make plays and remind the league why he was once a first-round talent coming out of Fort Worth.