According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, the Indianapolis Colts are trading former NFL All-Pro starting linebacker Zaire FranklinColby Wooden:
It comes after an initial national report that the Colts were shopping Franklin to other NFL teams earlier this week.
With Colts longtime general manager Chris Ballard also being recently rather noncommittal on Franklin continuing with the club, the writing appeared to be on the wall that Franklin would be departing sooner rather than later this early offseason—especially with Indianapolis looking to free up some extra salary cap space before free agency formally kicks off.
While Franklin was more of a polarizing player for Colts fans during more recent seasons, after making public and at times, “lightning rod” comments on his national podcast, and then not always backing it up with his actual individual production on the field, there’s no doubt he was a success story personally and professionally.
As a former 2018 7th round pick of Indianapolis, Franklin worked his way onto the 53-man roster, going from core special teamer to full-time starter—and ultimately, a 2024 NFL 2nd-Team All-Pro and NFL Pro Bowler, as well as defensive team captain. He led the league in total tackles during 2024 with 173 total tackles.
Franklin started all 17 games for the Colts last season, recording 125 tackles (62 solo), 7 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 5 passes defensed, and a forced fumble. Per PFF, Franklin was their 87th best graded linebacker with just a +38.4 overall grade this past season.
Even though the Colts will save some salary cap with this trade (~$4.61M), this move was just as much—if not more so, about Franklin being less of a natural fit in veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s defense, the team looking to get younger and faster at starting linebacker within its front seven, and perhaps (although no one within the Colts will admit it publicly), even arguably to eliminate some of the public distraction that Franklin had more recently become on his podcast.
As for Wooden, the 6,‘4”, 273 pound defensive tackle was originally a 2023 4th round pick of the Packers, who recorded 50 tackles (26 solo) and a pass defensed during 17 games (16 starts) in Green Bay this past season. Per PFF, Wooden earned a +49.8 overall grade this past season, which was 100th best among all interior defenders.
Wooden was highly athletic coming out of Auburn back in 2023:
He’s one of seven players to block both a field goal and an extra point over the past two seasons (via SleeperColts).
Wooden has one year left on his rookie contract and projects to be a rotational defensive tackle for the Colts next season.
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