Packers pull off intriguing player-for-player trade to address one roster weakness, but the move exposes another concern
Packers acquired Zaire Franklin, but sent defensive tackle Colby Wooden to the Colts.
The Green Bay Packers have made their big move to acquire an off-ball linebacker, and it’s an intriguing player-for-player trade ahead of free agency. On Saturday, the Packers agreed to send defensive tackle Colby Wooden to the Indianapolis Colts for veteran linebacker Zaire Franklin.
Franklin will be 30 by Week 1 and is under contract for two more years, making $7 million in 2026 and $9 million in 2027. The former seventh-rounder had good moments in the NFL, but he’s coming off his worst NFL season by PFF grades (38.4 in 2025), prompting Colts general manager Chris Ballard to move on from him.
Who’s Zaire Franklin
Zaire Franklin has been an incredible success story for the Indianapolis Colts. They drafted him in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft, and he has developed into a Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro linebacker.
He’s recorded four straight 100+ tackle seasons and even led the league in 2024 with 173. He is a proven run-stopper and is at his best when he is asked to attack the ball carrier, but isn’t asked to do too much on the coverage side.
The Colts wanted to reset the LB room and this is the first move towards doing just that. Franklin can still be a very productive player, and his fit in the Packers’ defense next to Edgerrin Cooper makes sense.
The Packers are expected to let Quay Walker leave in free agency, and Gutekunst had already mentioned his desire to add competition to the linebacker room.
There’s risk involved
Even though acquiring Franklin is understandable, the Packers are extremely thin at the defensive tackle position.
Colby Wooden has been a solid rotational defensive lineman, and he was probably the Packers’ most complete interior player — because Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks are both interior rushers. Wooden had a bigger role in 2025 after the Packers lost TJ Slaton in free agency and involved Kenny Clark as part of the Micah Parsons trade. Last season, he ended up playing 52.41% of the Packers’ defensive snaps, second on the team behind Brooks — Wyatt played less because he got hurt.
Wooden is entering the final year of his rookie deal, making $1.145 million. Presuming the Packers didn’t plan to keep him beyond the rookie contract, general manager Brian Gutekunst felt compelled to move him away to solve another roster issue.
Without Wooden, the Packers interior defensive line has Devonte Wyatt (playing on his fifth-year option), Karl Brooks, Warren Brinson, Nazir Stackhouse, and Jordon Riley, who tore his Achilles in late December.
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