The Indianapolis Colts have traded veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for defensive tackle Colby Wooden, sources told Adam Schefter.
Indianapolis had reportedly been shopping the 2024 Pro Bowl defender ahead of NFL free agency prior to the trade being completed. Franklin will now join the Packers after spending eight seasons with the Colts.
The 2018 seventh-round pick has racked up over 100 tackles in each of the last four years, including a league-leading 173 in 2024. Franklin was a big part of the Colts defense, but his play did seem to dip a tad the last two seasons. 
This move also helps the Colts save $7 million in cap space following the departure. Franklin is under contract through the 2027 season after signing a three-year, $31-million extension in 2024.
As for Colby Wooden, he completed his third season with the Packers in 2025. The 25-year-old has nine tackles for loss across 47 career games.
Franklin looks to be a key addition to this Packers defense that will try to survive the beginning of the season without Micah Parsons. While Franklin has been a tackle machine, his play in coverage is the one thing that will have a lot of eyes on it, as that has not been up to par the last two seasons. If he is able to improve in this category, then this will be an even better move made by the Packers. 
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