Zaire Franklin
Getty
The Colts have traded linebacker Zaire Franklin to the Packers in exchange for defensive tackle Colby Wooden
With free agency drawing near, the Indianapolis Colts have some big decisions to make. Quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce highlight the team’s crop of pending free agents, and if they want to keep these guys in town, it’s going to cost the front office some serious money.
While the Colts slapped the transition tag on Jones, it still has to find a way to agree to a long-term contract with him. Beyond that, Pierce appears set to hit the open market, which will make retaining him a difficult task for the front office. On Saturday, Indianapolis decided to trade away one of its top defenders, linebacker Zaire Franklin, in order to clear up some salary cap space.
Colts Trade Zaire Franklin to the Packers in Exchange for Colby Wooden
Franklin has spent his entire eight-year career with the Colts so far, and he’s been one of their great success stories in the draft. A seventh-round pick in 2018, Franklin initially was primarily used on special teams for this first three seasons in the pros. Eventually, Franklin earned a starting role in 2021, and he never looked back.
Since becoming a starting linebacker on Indy’s defense, Franklin has become a tackling machine. Over the past four seasons, Franklin has racked up at least 125 tackles each year, with his 173 in 2024 leading the league. Franklin’s 2024 campaign was the best of his career, as he earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro Second Team honors for the first time each.
With the Colts looking to shed money, though, they began exploring trades involving Franklin over the past few days. They found a willing trade partner in the Green Bay Packers, who are sending starting defensive tackle Colby Wooden back the other way, making this a rare player-for-player swap.
“The Packers have traded DT Colby Wooden to the Colts for LB Zaire Franklin, per me and Tom Pelissero,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in a post on X.
Colts Hoping Zaire Franklin Trade Helps Them Keep Daniel Jones, Alec Pierce
Daniel Jones
GettyINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – NOVEMBER 30: Daniel Jones #17 of the Indianapolis Colts passes the ball against the Houston Texans during the first quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 30, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
There’s no doubt that losing Franklin hurts, but the front office felt he was expendable when it comes to their quest to keep several of their other players in town. Getting Wooden back certainly isn’t a bad return, as he’s one of the top interior run defenders in the league. However, there’s now a big hole at the linebacker spot that needs to be filled.
With Franklin’s money off the books, Indianapolis is hoping it will be able to keep Jones and Pierce in town now. It seems more likely Pierce will leave at the moment, but if the Colts can continue freeing up money, that could allow them to make him an offer that keeps him in Indy. The offseason always forces teams into tough decisions, and the front office is hoping that the decision to move on from Franklin will help it achieve some of its other goals.