The Green Bay Packers didn’t replace Quay Walker with a developmental player—they replaced him with one of the NFL’s most productive tacklers.
The Packers acquired linebacker Zaire Franklin through a trade with the Indianapolis Colts on March 11. The deal sent defensive tackle Colby Wooden to the Colts in return.
The move was, in part, a preemptive strike. One that was made before the team’s testing of the free agency period, in case Walker bolted for a better deal. It was prescient because Walker signed with the Las Vegas Raiders a week later.
In Franklin, Green Bay has a veteran presence in the linebackers room, one that has enjoyed great success as an NFL player. What can Packer Backers expect out of him, and how far will he be able to lead new defensive coordinator Jonathon Gannon’s crew?
After lasting until the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Franklin proved to be far more worthy of the 235th overall selection for the Colts. The Syracuse product played in all but one of the 132 games during his eight years in Indianapolis at the demanding linebacker position.
Franklin spent his first four seasons primarily as a special teamer and reserve defender. Since he became a starter in 2022, he has amassed a distinguished record of achievements:
Being a fixture in the Colts’ defense, not to mention, the success he enjoyed attracted the attention of Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst towards Franklin. The biggest factor in pulling the trigger to the trade, however, had a lot to do with the linebacker’s familiarity with his new defensive coordinator.
The Packers scooped up Gannon to head their defense after his tenure as head coach of the Arizona Cardinals came to a close. His three-year reign in the desert ended unceremoniously, as he went 15-36 over that span.
Mark Hafley, the Packers’ previous defensive coordinator, left to become head coach of the Miami Dolphins. Gannon, now available, was hired by Green Bay in February. Before his stint in Arizona, he made a mark for himself as the leader of the Philadelphia Eagles defense that appeared in Super Bowl LVII.
The Eagles plucked Gannon from his preceding post, defensive back coach for the Colts, where his troops consistently ranked in the top 10 in takeaways.
For the first three years of his career, Franklin was part of that defensive group, and now Gannon will be able to utilize him with the defense he runs.
Gannon will transform Green Bay’s defense to a 3-4, which will most likely see Franklin teamed with Edgerrin Cooper in the middle. Because of the new look to the front seven, it is possible that Wooden, who transitioned from edge rusher, just wasn’t a good fit and became expendable.
It is no coincidence that one of the first roster decisions after Gannon’s hire was to acquire Franklin. Head coach Matt LaFleur has held nothing but high praise for his new inside linebacker’s experience and ability to lead others.
Said LaFleur: “Zaire’s been awesome. Just a real leader, an alpha. You can feel him. Does a great job communicating. He wears the green dot (he’s done that since 2022) and so naturally, you’re the quarterback of the defense and I think he holds himself to a high standard, and he holds those around him to a high standard.”
The feeling is mutual for Franklin, who is relishing the chance to play under Gannon once again, remembering fondly about their time together in Indy.
“He (Gannon) was one of the coaches, even when I wasn’t playing, that went out their way to just let me know that he believed in me and that he just appreciated how I worked and how I approached the game,” Franklin said earlier this month. “At the time, when you a young player in a position where you may not feel like you’re appreciated, having somebody just come and tell you they recognize your work, it means a lot, and I told him that I really appreciate it.
The Packers hope Franklin stays appreciated and motivated to continue performing at the highest level.
Losing the 25-year-old Wooden may have been a risky decision, but the prize Green Bay won in return is what will help the Packers win now. Franklin is a seasoned veteran who has played at a high level for several years, and the soon-to-be 30-year-old still has gas left in the tank.
Now it is up to Gannon and LaFleur to keep Franklin’s engine running smoothly–all the way to Los Angeles and Super Bowl LXI this February.
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