4 hypothetical trades for Colts 2024 All-Pro linebacker Zaire Franklin as Indy begins to reshape their defense
Looking at the type of trade offers the Colts may get for Zaire Franklin after news that they are shopping the LB.
The Indianapolis Colts have made it clear that they believe their defense needs significant changes. The Colts’ general manager has used the phrase “younger and faster” every time someone asks what those changes will be working towards.
Adding players to fit that mold will obviously be part of their plan, but it will also likely involve departures. It seems we now know who the first major departure will be.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported on Thursday that the Colts have been speaking with teams about the possibility of trading former Pro Bowl and All-Pro linebacker Zaire Franklin. As a result, a few of my colleagues here at A to Z Sports reached out to express their interest in a team they cover, sending a trade offer for the Colts LB. Below you will find four hypothetical offers, and I share which one Indy would value the most.
Chargers see Franklin as the final piece of the puzzle at LB
“The Chargers have plenty of cap space to make a plethora of impactful moves for next season over the next couple of weeks. Adding some experience and upside at linebacker should be on their radar, and their inconsistent run defense from a season ago could get a boost from a player like Franklin.
He fits in nicely alongside the likes of Daiyan Henley, and Denzel Perryman is set to hit free agency. With only Troy Dye and Junior Colson alongside Henley, both unproven players when it comes to starting ability, LB should be a position that the Bolts attack via trade, FA, or the draft. It may make sense to acquire a veteran and supply depth in the draft on day two or three as well.” – Adam Holt, A to Z Sports NFL analyst
Offer:
Chargers send: Pick 123 (4th-round)
Colts send: Zaire Franklin, Pick 155 (5th-round)
Raiders add Zaire Franklin to their ongoing rebuild
“This one is a bit tough to gauge. On one hand, Franklin had an amazing 2024 season, and the Colts rewarded him with a pretty decent contract extension. On the other hand, his 2025 season was nowhere near as good as the year before. In fact, his 38 overall Pro Football Focus grade ranked 87th out of 88 total linebackers graded in their system. The grades don’t tell the whole story, and we don’t often use them to gauge how good or bad a player is, but without giving you the film straight, this can give you a bit of an idea of how bad he was last year.
He can still be a good player, and the Raiders have a huge need at linebacker, so why not take the shot? Vegas is rebuilding, and they may not be willing to send a fifth-round pick or anything higher when they need the compensation to get as many players in as possible. So this trade offer is fair for what the Raiders can offer in their situation. Whether or not the Colts view it as fair is a different story.” – Justin Churchill, A to Z Sports Las Vegas
Offer:
Raiders send: Pick 181 (6th-round) and Pick 219 (7th-round)
Colts send: Zaire Franklin
Steelers reshape their LB room with Zaire Franklin
“The Pittsburgh Steelers should be viewed as a sleeper candidate for Zaire Franklin because he fits exactly what they are missing. The Steelers tried to deploy Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson as their starting inside duo, but it was clear that Wilson struggled to get off blocks and make plays on the ball carrier.
The solution was to start Malik Harrison, who is fine as a pure thumper, but he doesn’t bring the Pro Bowl upside and true field general mentality that Franklin does. However, given that Franklin has two years left on his contract and is approaching his age 30 season as a run-dominant backer, the Steelers would need to be smart about the trade.” – Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports Pittsburgh
Offer:
Steelers send: Pick 135 (4th-round)
Colts send: Zaire Franklin
Jets give Aaron Glenn a new defensive leader at LB in Zaire Franklin
“Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has his work cut out for him. After the team tore down the foundation of the roster last season, the pressure is on for the Jets to look better in Year 2. In Detroit, Glenn’s defenses had three linebackers implemented often — and Franklin could be a buy candidate for the Jets amid their need there and the extra resources at their disposal. New York is willing to part with a projected compensatory pick for Franklin’s services.” – Kyle Crabbs, A to Z Sports NFL analyst
Offer:
Jets send: Pick 179 (5th-round)
Colts send: Zaire Franklin
Colts send Zaire Franklin back to his home state to join Pittsburgh
I was pleasantly surprised by the offers that came in for Franklin. I think a fifth-round pick is probably roughly what the Colts are hoping for, but this time of year, you never know how much other teams are going to be willing to send for a player the Colts would likely end up cutting if a trade doesn’t come together.
The best two offers from this group were the Steelers and Jets, both of which allow the Colts to add a pick in the top five rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft without losing any of their already thin draft chest. The clear winner, though, is Pittsburgh, which sends a late fourth-rounder, which I’d imagine the Colts would view as a home run return for Franklin.
Franklin also would likely welcome this move; he’s from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, so he would be returning to his home state. The only thing that would be better is if his hometown Philadelphia Eagles made an offer, but I think joining the Steelers would still feel ike a homecoming for Franklin. This would likely help soften the blow of getting traded away from the team that he’s spent his entire NFL career with since being selected in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft, which may not matter to some, but the Colts are known for trying to take care of their players even during their exits when possible.