Germaine Pratt just became all the more important after new Colts development

The Indianapolis Colts have a lot of work to do this offseason, with a large portion of that work stemming from the philosophy of the team, as it comes directly from the one making all the decisions, team general manager Chris Ballard. 

Ballard has been very public about changing the makeup of the Colts roster, wanting to move towards a younger, faster, more fuel-efficient team. With the Colts' defense being the side of the ball that needs the most work in filling holes left by eventual free agents, Ballard is expected to use the draft to remedy that.

That defense that he wants to see get younger just became more apparent with the news that the Colts traded 29-year-old veteran Zaire Franklin to the Green Bay Packers ahead of the start of free agency.

Germaine Pratt could leapfrog other Indianapolis Colts free agents in the importance of re-signing

Furthermore, and what could become a more pertinent issue, what then do the Colts do with Germaine Pratt since Franklin is traded? Pratt's free agency just became all the more important in Indianapolis. 

Franklin will turn 30 this summer and, after eight years in the NFL, has established himself as a veteran right in his prime, though he is moving toward the end of it rather than entering it. When Ballard spoke of wanting his team to become younger and faster, perhaps moving on from Franklin falls into exactly what Ballard meant. 

Pratt, who also happens to be 29 and has played eight seasons, would also fall into the category that Ballard speaks of. However, the Colts can't afford to lose both veterans, as it would wipe away almost two decades' worth of valuable experience at the linebacker position. 

Franklin being dealt makes Pratt's free agency status all the more intriguing as it relates to what exactly the Colts will do. Now that Franklin was moved, Pratt should become a priority re-signing prospect, in that case, despite his age. 

Not only would re-signing Pratt retain experience on a defense that will become younger, but it would also retain depth at linebacker. When the Colts acquired Pratt after the Las Vegas Raiders released him early last season, he immediately injected some much-needed firepower into the Colts' linebacker core and overall defense. 

Pratt accumulated 101 tackles, five tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, and one interception in 12 games with the Colts. Those are solid numbers for a player in just 12 games. Pratt isn't what an All-Pro linebacker brings to a team every season, but he is solid, reliable, and can be trusted as a starter at his position. 

On top of that, his familiarity with Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo helps maintain continuity (Pratt played under Anarumo for six seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals).

The Colts would do well not to lose both linebackers. Since Franklin is gone, Indy must see the good in retaining Pratt. The Colts are expected to add to their defense via the draft, which checks off Ballard's "getting younger" box.

Cutting ties with years of NFL experience and veteran leadership altogether, though, may not benefit the younger players coming in or the Colts as a team, which could make Pratt a more important free-agent re-signing.