The Indianapolis Colts will trade their top tackle, linebacker Zhaire Franklin, to the Green Bay Packers on the eve of 2026 NFL free agency, according to multiple reports.
The Packers will send defensive tackle Colby Wooden to the Colts in a player swap.
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Franklin, 29, has been with the Colts since being selected in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL draft. The Syracuse product served as a backup early in his career before evolving into a full-time starter in 2022.
Franklin had four straight seasons with at least 125 tackles. That included an NFL-high 173 in 2024, a season in which he was named second-team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl.
It’s no surprise that Franklin was traded. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on March 5 that the Colts are “in discussions with teams” about trading the veteran linebacker as they look to stay under the 2026 salary cap.
Franklin was entering his penultimate season when he signed a three-year, $31.3 million contract extension with the Colts in 2024. According to Spotrac.com, trading him would save the Colts nearly $5.8 million in cap space while incurring a $2.5 million dead cap penalty.
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Here’s what to know about the trade between the Colts and Packers.
Zaire Franklin Trade Details
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Colts get:
Franklin’s arrival in Green Bay will likely signal the departure of 2022 NFL Draft first-round pick Quay Walker from the team in free agency. The Packers will replace Walker with Franklin, who will serve as a veteran counterpart to athletic third-year linebacker Edgerlyn Cooper.
The Packers would give up Wooden, a 2023 fourth-round pick out of Auburn who compiled a career-best 50 tackles as a full-time starter, to acquire Franklin. Wooden played 52.4 percent of the team’s snaps last season, ranking third among defensive linemen, so Green Bay will likely look to replace him during free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Wooden, meanwhile, will provide the Colts with solid depth on the interior defensive line, but the team will be thin at linebacker after Franklin’s departure and Jermaine Prater’s impending free agency. Austin Ajiake is the only linebacker left on the roster and he played over 100 defensive snaps last season, leaving Indianapolis with a big hole at the position.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colts trade leading tackler to Packers: Full details
