Packers Trade for Franklin, Shore Up Linebacker Depth

0:00On March 7th, the Green Bay Packers pulled off a straight player swap, sending defensive lineman Colby Wooden to the Indianapolis Colts for linebacker. Zaire Franklin This deal, reported by NFL Insider and Rappaport, waits for the new league year next week to become official. Franklin heads into his 30s this July with two years remaining on his contract. A 7th round pick, back in 2018, he notched over 100 tackles in each of the last four seasons and earned pro bowl honors last year after topping the league in stops. The move shores up linebacker depth amid signs that key walker could hit free agency soon. Franklin steps in as a likely starter alongside Edger and Cooper and might even handle defensive signals for the new coordinator. On the flip side, parting with Wooden, a 2023 third-rounder who logged over 600 interior snaps last season, exposes cracks in. Green Bay's defensive line already a sore spot heading into next year. Franklin carries a cap hit around 7 million

1:01dollars in 2026 and 9 million in 2027, all restructurable with no. Guarantees left. He joins a linebacker room featuring Cooper, Isaiah McDuffie, Tyron Hopper, and Jamon Johnson as the packers tweak their roster for the stretch run.