The Green Bay Packers have traded defensive tackle Colby Wooden for former Indianapolis Colts off-ball linebacker Zaire Franklin, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Packers started Wooden as their starting nose tackle in 2025, following the trade of Kenny Clark to the Dallas Cowboys, after Wooden previously played a three-technique earlier in his Green Bay career.
Without Wooden, Green Bay is strongly expected to be in the nose tackle market, as they’ll look for his replacement. Wooden was on the final year of his rookie contract, going into the 2026 season.
It was reported this week that the Packers were talking to agents of off-ball linebackers at the NFL scouting combine, which was interesting for a couple of reasons. First of all, the team doesn’t need to be in the off-ball linebacker market, if they weren’t going to let Quay Walker, their starting Mike, walk in free agency. Take this as a sign that Walker is going to hit the open market.
Secondly, Green Bay is expected to transition to a 3-4 defense under Jonathan Gannon, based on comments from general manager Brian Gutekunst and the quarters-system tree mostly living out of a 3-4 league-wide. Needing a starting linebacker means that Edgerrin Cooper will likely stay in the Will linebacker role, which he’s played throughout his career. Ty’Ron Hopper is an undersized linebacker who can really only play the Will position at the NFL level. It looks like Hopper will be Cooper’s backup moving forward.
Franklin, a 2024 All-Pro, will likely start over Isaiah McDuffie, who should serve as the backup Mike linebacker on the depth chart. Under Joe Barry, the last time the Packers played a 3-4 defense, Green Bay usually kept just four off-ball linebackers on the gameday 48-man roster, compared to the five that Jeff Hafley’s 4-3 defense typically carried.
Unless the team ships out one of their backups, this is probably going to be the four-man unit that the Packers carry in 2026.
There are no remaining guarantees on Franklin’s deal. The only money that can be guaranteed is his salary, which is true of any vested veteran who is on the 53-man roster in Week 1. Essentially, the Packers are on the hook for that $6.24 million salary if he makes the final roster, but they can release him with a $0 cap charge if things don’t work out this summer.
Zaire Franklin PFF Grades
As you can see, there was a clear drop-off for Franklin in 2025. I’m sure the Packers are hoping that he bounces back to his previous performance.
Packers Nose Tackle Snaps — 2025
Nose tackle has now clearly moved into the Packers’ number one need going into the new league year.
We’ll continue to update this article as more details surface.