Colts make Zaire Franklin for Colby Wooden trade official
· Yahoo Sports
With the 2026 NFL league year now officially here, the Indianapolis Colts made the Zaire Franklin for Colby Wooden trade official.
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The news of this trade was first reported over the weekend. Moving on from Franklin created for the Colts $5.75 million in salary cap space, but left a huge void at linebacker. Currently, Jaylon Carlies, with just over 200 career snaps, is the most experienced player at this position.
In return for Franklin, the Colts received Wooden, an undersized but often effective run defender from the Packers.
After playing fewer than 300 snaps in his first two seasons, Wooden took on a much larger role in 2025, playing 622 snaps, while making 16 starts. He ranked 38th out of 146 defensive tackles in PFF's run-stop rate metric, but mustered just 14 pressures as a pass rusher.
Wooden will be a rotational member of the Colts' defensive front behind DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. As a run defender, he will be the next man up behind Stewart.
thank you @ZiggySmalls_ for all you have done for the community and the team. 💙 pic.twitter.com/WJxfOLUyBM
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) March 11, 2026
The 2024 season was Franklin's most decorated as a defender. He led the NFL in tackles, made his first Pro Bowl, and was named a second-team All-Pro.
Franklin finished his Colts career appearing in 132 games, which included 82 starts. He recorded 738 total tackles, 34 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. Franklin also forced 10 fumbles, came away with three interceptions, and had 26 pass deflections.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: NFL free agency: Colts Zaire Franklin for Colby Wooden trade official