Back in March, the Green Bay Packers got a little creative with addressing one of their more notable roster needs. With the 2026 NFL Draft looming and linebacker high on their priority list, Green Bay traded interior defensive lineman Colby Wooden to the Indianapolis Colts for linebacker Zaire Franklin.
The trade allowed the Packers to focus on other positional needs in the NFL Draft while also giving them a former Pro Bowl linebacker to pair with Edgerrin Cooper. Meanwhile, the Colts added a former fourth-round pick who had a career-high 50 tackles in 17 games played in 2025 (16 starts).
Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Colby Wooden (96) practices during the teams minicamp Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis.
In addition to giving Green Bay a Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker, the trade reunited Franklin with current Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who was with the Colts early in his career. Obviously, he made the initial 53-man roster and is projected to be a starter in Green Bay.
Wooden, on the other hand, was released by Indianapolis on Sunday. CBS Sports declared it one of the most surprising cuts of the day while declaring the Green Bay the winner of the trade before the season even begins:
#colts #linebacker
The trade allowed the Packers to focus on other positional needs in the NFL Draft while also giving them a former Pro Bowl linebacker to pair with Edgerrin Cooper. Meanwhile, the Colts added a former fourth-round pick who had a career-high 50 tackles in 17 games played in 2025 (16 starts).
Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Colby Wooden (96) practices during the teams minicamp Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis.
In addition to giving Green Bay a Pro Bowl-caliber linebacker, the trade reunited Franklin with current Packers defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who was with the Colts early in his career. Obviously, he made the initial 53-man roster and is projected to be a starter in Green Bay.
Wooden, on the other hand, was released by Indianapolis on Sunday. CBS Sports declared it one of the most surprising cuts of the day while declaring the Green Bay the winner of the trade before the season even begins:
#colts #linebacker
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