The Indianapolis Colts are actively discussing a trade for linebacker Zhaire Franklin with teams, according to the Colts’ Adam Schefter. ESPN.
The former special teams player and six-time team captain (2020-2025) spent nine NFL seasons with the Colts, totaling 738 tackles, 34 sacks, eight interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and 26 passes defended.
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Indianapolis hopes to be in salary cap compliance before the start of the new year next week on March 11, as they are currently $4.7 million over the salary cap after quarterback Daniel Jones received the transition tag earlier this week. While it’s certainly an immediate move to comply with salary cap requirements, moving on from Zaire Franklin may say more about the schematic fit (or lack thereof) under defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
According to Spotrac, Zaire Franklin currently has two years left on his contract, with a salary cap hit of $8.255 million for the 2026-27 season, which will increase to $10.255 million in the final year of the contract. Trading Franklin would save $5.755 million against the cap hit while leaving $2.5 million in dead money.
Franklin turns 30 later this summer, but he still has plenty of productive balls in front of him. Franklin led the league in tackles (173) in 2024-25, earned Pro Bowl honors and was named an All-Pro (second team) for the first time. Last season, he had 125 tackles, two sacks, seven tackles for loss, five passes defensed and one forced fumble.
The writing is on the wall, but homegrown talent like Zaire Franklin will be hard to leave. Franklin, a former seventh-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft (235th overall), epitomized the overused phrase “rags to riches” during his time in Indianapolis. It’s no coincidence that he went from being a rookie in training camp wearing No. 97 to leading the NFL in steals. The sound at the end may be a little loud due to the podcast microphone, but no matter how you shake it, Franklin’s story is commendable.
