Zaire

Franklin

The 29-year-old, longtime Colt had a rough 2025 season, but is hoping for a “change of scenery” turnaround in Green Bay, where he will presumably be paired with Edgerrin Cooper. Franklin’s arrival should mean Quay Walker’s departure in free agency. An every-down player, Franklin is a “jack of all trades, master of none” even in the best of times, and last year was not his best of times.

Franklin has played for the Colts since 2018, after Indianapolis spent a seventh-round pick on him. He blossomed into a capable starter, earning Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors in 2024 while leading the NFL in combined tackles. He led the Colts with 133 combined tackles last season. Franklin turns 30 in July.

“We’ll see,” were the exact words Ballard used about the possibility of Franklin remaining with the team next season. The eighth-year linebacker carries an $8.3 million cap hit next season, but his release would clear $5.8 million in cap space if the Colts opted to part ways with him. Franklin totaled 125 tackles, seven TFLs, and two sacks in 17 games last season and has spent his entire career with the Colts. He’ll be 30 at the start of next season and should have plenty of suitors on the open market if he becomes available.

The Athletic’s James Boyd reports that Franklin is still rehabbing from the left ankle surgery he underwent this offseason, but he successfully participated in 7-on-7 drills for the first time in this year’s training camp on Sunday. This is great news for the Colts’ defense. Franklin has totaled 115-plus tackles in each of the last three seasons. Last year, he banked career highs in both quarterback pressures (15) and sacks (four).

Despite that, Franklin won’t be ready to go right at the outset of camp. Still, this qualifies as great news for the linebacker as he looks to reprise a strong IDP role for the Colts in 2025. The 29-year-old linebacker had ankle surgery following the year and missed Colts OTAs and minicamp earlier in the offseason.

Steichen is “hopeful” Franklin will be available for training camp in July. The 28-year-old appeared on the Week 10 injury report with an ankle issue last season but managed to suit up for all 18 games. With the connective tissue now, hopefully, cleaned up, Franklin will attempt to record his fourth straight 100-plus-tackle season. His availability in July will tell us if he’s heading in the right direction.

Franklin missed Wednesday’s practice but was back on the field for two full practices before being removed form the report entirely. He is good to go for Week 10. Franklin leads the league in tackles (95) and has two TFLs plus an interception to his name this year.

Colts players are rarely practicing in a limited capacity these days, so Franklin going from a non-participant Wednesday to a full participant Thursday is par for the course. The talented run-defender can be safely expected to suit up in Week 10.

Franklin leads the NFL with 95 total tackles. He also has two TFLs and an interception. Franklin has been one of the few bright spots on a dreadful Colts defense this year. Losing him would be a tough blow to an already-struggling unit.

Franklin was set to enter 2024 on the final year of a three year contract, but is now under contract with the Colts through the 2027 season. Franklin totaled 179 tackles and 1.5 sacks last season, and has now tallied 160 or more tackles in each of the last two years. A staple of the Colts’ defense over the last two seasons, Franklin earned a PFF grade of 60.9 for his efforts in 2023.